By Rebecca Wright
Green MP Sue Bradford is no stranger to threats – but this is the first time she’s had a threat like this.
An anonymous threat directed as Ms Bradford was posted on social networking site Twitter, under the pseudonym GarfieldNZ.
“Sue Bradford is still a good candidate for New Zealand’s first political assassination,” the post reads.
Today 3 News tracked the man behind GarfieldNZ down in Woodville, Manawatu.
Henk Van Helmond admits GarfieldNZ is his Twitter account, but denies he is the author of the threat.
He claims someone has hacked his profile.
But it soon became clear, Mr Van Helmond is no fan of Ms Bradford.
He also hosts a site called Cyfswatch – which Ms Bradford has come across before, in 2007.
“It was basically encouraging people to take violent action against me – that was the worst part,” she says.
“They were encouraging people to try and find my home address.”
The latest threats against the author of the anti-smacking law appear to have been prompted by the recent referendum, which has reignited the debate.
“It was always upsetting to read really virulent and ugly abuse, but it also makes me more determined to carry on – I have never been one to buckle to threats or to that kind of abuse.”
NetSafe New Zealand says there are actions open to those who are being abused on social networking sites like Twitter.
“You can go to the provider of the service – whether it is Twitter or Bebo or MySpace – and make a complaint to them. They have Terms of Service and if people breach those then they will take action as well,” says Martin Crockere of NetSafe.
That is exactly what Ms Bradford says she is going to do.
She has also referred several emails she has received to police.
While they usually come anonymously, police say they do have the power to track their authors.
In fact, 3 News understands one of those emails has resulted in a prosecution that is underway right now.
3 News