The Prime Minister's deputy chief press secretary, pictured back left, has resigned. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
The Prime Minister's deputy chief press secretary has resigned after allegedly recording audio of sessions with Wellington sex workers and taking intimate photos of women in public.
A Stuff investigation reported that Michael Forbes, a former journalist, allegedly recorded audio of multiple sessions with Wellington sex workers, and amassed a gallery of women working out at the gym, shopping, and being filmed through a window getting ready to go out.
A Wellington sex worker told Stuff she realised while Forbes was in the shower that his phone's voice recorder was allegedly activated back in July 2024.
She told the outlet she and other sex workers working that night asked Forbes for his phone PIN code. They claim to have found multiple audio recordings of sessions with sex workers, albums full of photos of women, and videos of women getting ready to go out, filmed through a window at night.
Photo: LinkedIn/Michael Forbes
Forbes, who was press secretary for Minister of Social Development Louise Upston at the time, has offered an apology for the harm his actions caused to women.
"I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the women I have harmed," he said in a statement.
"In the past, I was in a downward spiral due to unresolved trauma and stress, and when confronted with the impacts of my behaviour a year ago, I sought professional help, which is something I wish I had done much earlier.
"What I failed to do then was make a genuine attempt to apologise. Instead, I tried to move on without offering those I had harmed the acknowledgement, accountability, or amends they deserved. I recognise how wrong that was."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's deputy chief press secretary Michael Forbes shaking hands with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: Youtube/Narendra Modi
Forbes said he spent the past year "reflecting on how I may have affected these women's sense of safety and ability to go about their lives and work".
"No one should ever feel violated, unsafe, or disrespected, especially in spaces where they should feel secure, and I am truly sorry for contributing to an environment where women may have felt otherwise," he said.
"The therapy I've received over the past year has helped me to understand the roots of my behaviour and begin addressing the patterns that led to it. This is a long-term commitment to change that I take very seriously.
"I understand that my past actions may have undermined the trust people place in me. So, I have resigned from my job to focus on the work I need to do."
According to John Van Den Heuvel, Wellington District Manager Criminal Investigations, police received a complaint from a Wellington brothel in July last year, after a client was found to have concerning images and recordings on his phone.
Police investigated and spoke to the individual. The case was filed as the event did not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution.
Michael Forbes pictured during Christopher Luxon's visit to India. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
A spokesperson from the prime minister's office said they were informed at 4pm on 3 June.
"The matters were immediately raised with Ministerial Services and the prime minister was informed that evening. The allegations were serious and concerning. They were discussed with the staff member on the evening of June 3 and it was clear their employment was untenable," the spokesperson said.
"It was agreed that the staff member was stood down that evening and they resigned the following morning. Had the staff member not resigned, we expect their employment would have been terminated after a short investigation.
"As this is an employment matter between the individual and Ministerial Services, the Prime Minister will not be able to comment further."
The Prime Minister is expected to address media at Parliament tomorrow.
The office of Forbes' former boss Upston said: "The Minister was not aware of any allegations before they were raised with PMO yesterday. Minister Upston has nothing further to add to the PMs statement on this."
When asked by RNZ why the minister, her office, the prime minister, or the Dignitary Protection Service were not informed of the police investigation into Forbes, Ministerial Services said any questions about the investigation should go to Police.
It also did not answer whether there were any typical thresholds that would see Ministerial Services informed by police of an investigation into an employee.
Deputy secretary partnerships and commissions Hoani Lambert said this was a "serious and concerning matter" for the department.
"We were made aware of this matter late on 3 June and met with the employee that evening. The individual concerned is no longer employed by the Department. We are working with urgency to thoroughly understand what has happened. This includes further engagement with the NZ Police. As the employer, DIA has important obligations to provide a safe workplace and ensure people are held accountable for their behaviour. We are taking this matter seriously, we are moving quickly and ensuring accountability. We will not comment further at this time."
