NZ needs stronger hate-crime law
Lesbian and bisexual women in New Zealand face substantially higher risks of crime by strangers. In fact, new AUT research shows they are up to twice as likely as heterosexual women to experience sexual assault and other violent offences perpetrated by people they do not know.
The study, a joint project by AUT Associate Professor Alex Plum in collaboration with researchers from Rosalind-Franklin University in the United States, reveals these and other stark differences in crime victimisation rates based on sexual orientation.
Ahead of NZ's annual Pride celebrations and events, which begin next month in Auckland, the findings are particularly sobering.
The study draws on data from the 2023 Census which, for the first time, collected information on sexual orientation and gender identity for people aged 16 and older. By linking Census records with police victimisation data for nearly 2.58 million adult New Zealanders, the research enables detailed comparisons in victimisation rates across sexual orientation groups, including whether offenders were strangers or people known to the victim.
The analysis covers multiple forms of victimisation, including any crime, sexual assault, violence, weapon-related offences, and serious violence. While non-heterosexual people are, on average, younger and more likely to live in deprived areas—factors themselves associated with higher victimisation risk—the study accounts for these differences by using statistical models that control for a wide range of socio-demographic characteristics.
According to the findings, non-heterosexual women and bisexual people experience consistently higher rates of victimisation, including violence, serious violence, and sexual assault. For example:
- On average, lesbian women are 44% more likely and bisexual women 98% more likely to experience sexual assault than straight women.
- Lesbian women are 72% more likely and bisexual women 77% more likely to be sexually assaulted by a stranger than their straight counterparts.
- Lesbian and bisexual women are more than 60% more likely to experience serious violence than straight women.
- Bisexual men are 30% more likely than straight men to experience serious violent victimisation by a stranger.
Implications for public health and policy
Associate Professor Plum, who is Associate Director of the NZ Policy Research Institute, says the research highlights the need for changes to public health and policy settings, prompting the authors to make several recommendations:
- Strengthen hate crime legislation: Hate-motivated offences are likely to contribute to the elevated levels of victimisation experienced by Takatāpui and Rainbow+ communities, with serious implications for their physical and mental health. Strengthening hate-crime legislation and implementing anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies that explicitly protect people based on sexual orientation and gender identity must be considered a public-health priority.
- Develop targeted interventions to prevent sexual violence: The findings point to an urgent need for targeted sexual-violence prevention initiatives to address the heightened risks of sexual violence faced by Takatāpui and Rainbow+ communities. Tailored, evidence-based interventions are critical to reducing harm and improving safety.
- Implement tailored victim support strategies: Victim support strategies must recognise and reflect the distinct risks faced by different communities. Focusing and expanding resources on those most at risk is essential to improving safety and reducing harm across Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Overall, the research highlights the importance of targeted crime prevention and victim support strategies and resources. Simply put, one crime victimisation group is not necessarily like the other, especially when factors of gender and sexual orientation are involved,” says Associate Professor Plum.
“One example is the establishment of Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura in December 2024, New Zealand’s first specialist ACC sensitive claims service for Takatāpui and Rainbow+ survivors of sexual harm. The national service has rapidly expanded, providing long term recovery support for four new survivors every week, but there is a need for crisis support funding and support for Takatāpui and Rainbow+ survivors who do not meet ACC sensitive claims criteria.”