By Rachel Tiffen
New Zealand police are talking to a Raglan teenager in relation to the high-profile suicide of Canadian teenager Amanda Todd.
Five weeks before taking her own life, the 15-year-old made a YouTube video – nine haunting minutes about how naivety and blackmail led to bullying and self-harm.
After her death, hacker group Anonymous named the man they say convinced Ms Todd to expose her breasts in an online chatroom when she was just 12, before posting the photos on Facebook.
Canadian police won't confirm or deny the man’s involvement – they're still investigating – but 3 News can reveal New Zealand police are talking to another person, a 17-year-old from Raglan, about Amanda's case.
Police say in a statement that their online child exploitation team had received more than 20 complaints about the Raglan teen and the disturbing images he posted of Ms Todd, from people here and around the world. They're working with the teenager and his family, have taken down his Facebook page, and have taken steps to stop the images being spread further.
After the photos went up in the US, Ms Todd was bullied mercilessly, online and at school.
When a group of teens attacked her she drank bleach. She survived that ordeal, but then nine days ago she committed suicide at home.
NetSafe executive director Martin Cocker says the idea a New Zealander may be involved is disappointing.
“But of course we know New Zealanders are cyber-bullying like everyone else,” he says.
Vigils are being held today across Canada, and internationally, in Ms Todd’s memory.
3 News