ARAFT of measures to tackle cyber bullying is being welcomed in Northland following a high-profile "criminal" event at a local college last year.
Justice Minister Judith Collins announced the proposals this week, following the deaths of several teenagers who took their own lives after being victimised online or by text messages.
The new laws will make it an offence to use a communications device to cause harm - punishable by up to three months in jail or a $2000 fine.
Inciting someone to commit suicide will also be made an offence and will be punishable by up to three years' imprisonment, even if the victim does not attempt to take his or her own life.
Tauraroa Area School principal Grant Burns said the proposals would address the need for greater accountability for cyber bullies' online behaviour.
"Just because something has been said via a computer, [it] doesn't mean that people aren't accountable for it.
"There seems to be a feeling that people are immune from any consequences for whatever they express [online] and there is a level of offensiveness and basic form of violence that goes on."
The proposals would increase accountability, Mr Burns said.
"Ultimately, if it decreases the amount of really malicious stuff that's already going on it's got to be a good thing."
While cyber bullying was not a big problem at Tauraroa Area School, Mr Burns said he was "not naive enough" to think it didn't happen.
A video showing a 14-year-old Northland student being beaten up by classmates was posted on Facebook and YouTube last September.
The Ruawai College student was attacked in the school bathrooms while a group of students looked on and filmed.
At the time principal Stephen Fordyce said the "criminal event" had caused great distress.
Ms Collins said the impact of bullying had increased considerably in the digital age.
"Tormenters are able to harass their targets 24 hours a day, seven days a week, wherever they go, and the trail of abuse lives on in cyber space, following victims for years.
"No one should ever be subject to this kind of cowardly attack - now with the right support and modern laws in place, victims will no longer have to suffer."
A new civil enforcement regime would also be set up, either independently or within an existing agency such as NetSafe, to deal with complaints.
Ms Collins said the agency would help people get the support they needed to stop cyber bullying quickly, by liaising with website hosts and internet service providers to request take-down or moderation of offensive posts.
"The agency will also be able to investigate and resolve complaints directly, with the most serious complaints being referred by the agency to the district court which can issue take-down orders and cease-and-desist notices."
The Harassment, Privacy and Human Rights Acts would also be amended to ensure they were up to date for digital communications.