26/05/2026
Trigger warning: stalking / harassment
When this happened to me, stalking wasn’t yet a law in New Zealand.
At the time I was a young yoga teacher saying yes to every opportunity, building my brand and believing seeing the good in people was always enough.
Someone began attending every class I taught. They knew my routines, where I lived, where I worked. At first I convinced myself it was harmless and ignored the warning signs.
One morning before teaching, I opened my curtains and saw them standing outside my house.
The messages became excessive, I blocked every account and asked them not to contact me again.
That same week, they arrived uninvited to my first sold out public program and were later found hiding in the bathroom after the event. A client stayed with me while we went to the police.
I was told it was stalking, but at the time there was very little that could actually be done.
What people don’t always see is what happens after. The hyper vigilance. Looking over your shoulder. Changing the way you work. Becoming smaller, more guarded, less trusting.
I never shared this publicly because I never wanted it to become about me, but with New Zealand finally passing stalking laws, I hope more people feel validated, protected and taken seriously before situations escalate.
So please remember:
No is a full sentence.
Please trust your gut.
Document everything.
Tell people what is happening.
Activate emergency settings on your phones.
Protect your peace before it costs you your safety.
Over time I rebuilt my sense of safety, and in many ways helping other women do the same helped heal parts of me too.
I truly hope this law helps prevent situations from escalating before it is too late, and helps people feel seen, protected and taken seriously.
