Rex Landy, a member of Mana Wāhine Kōrero, was arrested in December of 2024 after being targeted by a trans activist who took issue with her online commentary.
The source of the complaints against Landy is a fantasy author named Daniel Johnston, a man who identifies as “female” and refers to himself by the name “Caitlin Spice.”
Landy says that Johnston’s rhetoric, specifically that about using women’s intimate spaces, was triggering for her as a survivor of sexual abuse.
“I’ve never once spoken to him, e-mailed him, interacted with any of his accounts online, or wished him harm. Never,” Landy clarifies, acknowledging she often uses “offensive” language to get her point across. “I do not use the language they want me to use. I just laugh at these men. I tell other people to laugh at them. We need to laugh at these people – the naked emperor and his swinging balls.”
In September of 2024, Landy received a court order instructing her to remove all posts she had made directly or indirectly referencing Johnston. At the time, Landy was in the midst of a family tragedy and felt unable to put up a fight against the order.
“I went and I removed them all, or so I thought. I deleted my entire Gettr profile, and I searched my other accounts for wherever I had mentioned his name and deleted them. But I missed two by accident,” Landy says.
On December 18, 2024, police raided Landy’s home and arrested her.
“They said I had failed to comply with the order because I had missed those two posts. They took my laptops, cellphones, everything,” Landy recalls. She was taken to the station and formally charged with failing to obey a Harmful Digital Communications Act order.
On September 18, just one day before she was ordered to appear in court, Landy was hit with yet another count of failing to obey a Harmful Digital Communications Act order after Johnston told police that she had subtly referenced him during a past Facebook livestream – something she says is untrue.
While in court last week, Landy was told the prosecution was not willing to entertain diversion or discharge without conviction because of her beliefs.
She is next expected to appear in court on December 16, and faces three months in jail or a $50,000 fine. Her current bail conditions include a ban on directly or indirectly contacting Johnston.
“In our culture, women are te whare tangata, which means the house of the ancestors. Only women give birth. Only women can do the karanga, only women can call out to the spirits. Māori know what a woman is.”
On the outcome of the case, Landy makes no predictions but expresses optimism.
“Win, lose, or draw – he’ll never be a woman,” Landy says with a laugh. “I’ve already won. I’m a woman, he isn’t.”