Overview

• Michael Forbes resigned after Stuff reported he secretly recorded audio of sex workers in July 2024 and photographed women in private settings.
• Forbes apologised and said unresolved trauma drove his actions, adding he has since sought professional help.
• Wellington police examined the recordings last year but concluded they did not meet the threshold for criminal charges.
• Government offices did not learn of the police investigation until journalists raised the issue, despite Forbes being vetted in Louise Upston’s office.
• Christopher Luxon said the scandal exposed gaps in existing laws and signalled plans to draft legislation to tighten privacy protections.