Teens At Beach Should Enjoy Privacy

Media Release 21 June 2018
Family First is concerned about a Supreme Court ruling which has quashed the conviction of a man secretly photographing teen girls in their swimwear at a public beach in Nelson.

“Children should have the freedom to be able to go to a beach without having to be concerned about a covert photographer taking photos of them secretly. Their privacy and their protection should take precedent. Most parents would find it unacceptable for a total stranger to be taking secret photos of their children,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“The jury in the High Court was completely correct to conclude that the actions were indecent having regard to generally accepted community standards.”

“Many high-profile parents have been concerned about their children being photographed without permission. The covert nature of this particular incident on Nelson’s Kaiteriteri beach is a breach of privacy and is not normal behaviour.”

“If he was acting innocently, he would have taken the photos out in the open, with the knowledge of the young girls – and preferably with their express permission.”

“The Supreme Court has undermined the privacy and modesty of these young teenagers which should have been the overriding requirement and given a green light to ‘undercover ogling’. The court failed to reflect accepted community standards.”
ENDS