Like Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who claimed “shock” over his press secretary’s litany of misconduct, Finance Minister Nicola Willis proclaiming dismay today rings hollow. Michael Forbes, accused of illegally recording women, including sex workers, without consent, was allowed to resign rather than face dismissal.
Nicola Willis’ claim that the “situation is awful” but police need discretion strains credulity, given National’s dirty political history of cover-ups and the likelihood that ministers knew of Forbes’ abusive behaviour since police first received complaints way back in July 2024.
Today, Newstalk ZB reported:
Deputy Prime Minister Nicola Willis says the Michael Forbes situation is awful - but police have to have discretion.
The Prime Minister's acting deputy press secretary quit last week, over allegations he took compromising recordings of sex workers and photos of women he didn't know.
Nicola Willis says these issues need to be managed well and she says the Department of Internal Affairs looking into the matter is positive.
She says police do have discretion, which is important.
"So it's never appropriate for ministers to dive in and say - we think you should prosecute this person or that person."
One of the biggest unanswered questions concerning this scandal is what was Forbes doing while he had access to confidential information during his time working for Social Development Minister Louise Upston, the same time the initial police complaint was made against him? Clearly employing individuals like Michael Forbes, in sensitive roles where they can access private information of young women isn’t just a bad look. It raises questions that require further investigation.
Forbes’ role as Upston’s press secretary placed him inside the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), which holds sensitive data on New Zealand’s most at-risk citizens: impoverished young women, struggling single mothers, and those vulnerable to exploitation. This includes personal details such as addresses, financial records, and, in some cases, histories of abuse. Given the allegations against Forbes, who covertly photographed and recorded women in compromising situations, a disturbing question arises: did he misuse his access to MSD’s private records in the same way he violated the privacy of women in private settings?
The nature of Forbes’ actions reveals a pattern of predatory behaviour. If he was willing to breach ethical and legal boundaries by recording women without consent, it is not a stretch to question whether he exploited his position under Upston to access confidential client information for personal gain. Could he have viewed the files of young women receiving benefits? Did he misuse their personal details? And if so, why was there no oversight to detect such misconduct?
This National-led government has consistently prioritised austerity over the needs of the vulnerable, as evidenced by Budget 2025’s cuts to pay equity settlements and tightened benefit criteria, particularly for 18 and 19 year olds. Yet, we are to believe that ministers were unaware of Forbes’ actions, despite his misconduct being common knowledge around Wellington and the police investigations being over a year ago? This suggests either gross incompetence or a deliberate attempt to deflect accountability, perhaps because there is something far more sinister that could be uncovered.
The public must know: what confidential information did Forbes access, and did he abuse that access as he did the privacy of sex workers and other women? Until government Minister’s, particularly Louise Upston, provide a full account of the safeguards in place and potential security breaches during Forbes’ tenure, their outrage is mere posturing. New Zealanders, particularly those reliant on MSD’s support, deserve transparency and accountability, not empty gestures and feigned outrage from a government that has once again failed to protect the vulnerable.
