The woman who complained to pool staff about the incident did not wish to discuss the specific details of the alleged offending while it was still proceeding through the courts.<\/p>\n
The mixed-gender changing room has individual cubicles that swimmers use to get changed. Photo \/ Annaleise Shortland<\/p>\n
When the Weekend Herald visited the Albany Stadium Pool this week, there were still areas above and below cubicles, where it remains possible to peek under or film other swimmers by holding a phone or device through the gap. It was also possible to stand on a bench in one of the cubicles and look down into another.<\/p>\n
There were no floor-length partitions in place in any of the cubicles viewed. The Weekend Herald understands temporary partitions had been trialled in a few of the cubicles. A sign saying the use of cameras was prohibited greeted swimmers upon entering the changing room.<\/p>\n
The woman involved in the incident said pool staff were empathetic and helpful at the time, but she believed there needed to be separate changing rooms for men and women to prevent something similar occurring.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone who I shared this story with were, firstly, annoyed with the fitting room situation, it\u2019s so unnecessary,\u201d the woman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI support having a gender-neutral changing room but there should be options for single-sex changing rooms. There needs to be more safety, I mean there are children getting changed in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maintaining a safe space for all genders and non-binary people was important, she told the Weekend Herald, but this could be in addition to separate spaces for men and women at the facilities.<\/p>\n
“There needs to be more safety, I mean there are children getting changed in there.\u201d Photo \/ Annaleise Shortland<\/p>\n
At the time of the incident, she felt vulnerable and disgusted, and she said it has continued to impact her by making her feel hyper-aware when getting changed and using pool facilities. She has since started swimming elsewhere and reduced the number of days she was visiting the pool.<\/p>\n
Auckland Council\u2019s Upper Harbour Local Board member Uzra Casuri Balouch has been advocating for changes at the Albany facility and said secret filming was sickening and a gross invasion of privacy.<\/p>\n
She believed it wasn\u2019t a widespread issue at the Albany facility and that other members of the community should feel safe to continue swimming there.<\/p>\n
What was disappointing about the behaviour, in her opinion, was that the pool had always had a \u201chappy, family-friendly\u201d vibe with many people enjoying the communal facilities.<\/p>\n
The individual cubicles allowing families to change together were beneficial for people with disabilities or young children who needed assistance, she said. The pool also had a purpose-built accessibility changing room with specialised equipment for wheelchair users.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very popular, busy and a well-loved pool. We get people from across Auckland visiting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had no issues of this nature, but even one incident of this kind is too many and I will ensure that the privacy of our community is not compromised by the actions of one person.\u201d<\/p>\n
People travel across Auckland to use the pool and facilities in Albany. Photo \/ Annaleise Shortland<\/p>\n
Casuri Balouch sought confirmation from the council that the partitions would be changed as soon as possible to prevent filming from above and below and requested further signage be installed by pool staff.<\/p>\n
She said pool staff were working on designing and installing customised partitions but they had to adhere to fire safety requirements.<\/p>\n
Separate gendered changing rooms were something she would investigate further if the Albany community wished, but she said that could require further council investment and a shutdown period for renovations.<\/p>\n
However, the woman at the centre of the incident believes there are ways the pool changing room could be redesigned without serious renovation to provide some separation for male and female swimmers.<\/p>\n
Another council-owned pool facility, the Olympic Pools & Fitness Centre in Newmarket, was also targeted for secret filming.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Remuera accountant Chong Yew Khoo admitted to unlawfully filming almost 400 males over six years at the pool. He captured footage of the men naked or partially naked while changing, with Khoo secretly filming their genitals.<\/p>\n
The offending in this case took place within an all-male changing room and Casuri Balouch said this showed the traditional changing room model could also be exploited for malicious purposes.<\/p>\n
As technology advances, it is becoming increasingly difficult for authorities to stop covert filming.<\/p>\n