The panel was made up of party members Simon Mitchell, a lawyer, Christchurch-based Tracey McLellan, who has previously worked for MPs Ruth Dyson and Megan Woods, and Honey Heemi, of Labour's Māori Council. It held interviews in March and in July it recommended no disciplinary action be taken. The council accepted that recommendation.

The party has since agreed to review the panel's process, and after complaints from witnesses and the party members who made the complaints, has set up an appeals process.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern has since made clear she thinks the party "isn't equipped" to deal with sexual assault complaints internally.

Despite repeated approaches for comment, Haworth and Lacy did not respond. Kirton declined to comment and referred questions to Labour.

HOW TO REPORT

In the submission, the woman tells Labour her understanding of the current process was that survivors had to approach Andrew Kirton with their concerns.

She says approaching someone in such a powerful role is intimidating when speaking about assault or harassment. It was also "logistically inaccessible" as new members may not know how to contact Kirton.

This system remains partially in place. An email sent to members of the party by Ardern on Thursday morning asked that if anyone had anything they wanted to say about the complaints currently in the media they should contact current General Secretary Andre Anderson, whose email address was provided.

Ardern's email address was also provided.

The party has published more detailed sexual harassment policies and complaints processes on its website, however.

The submission makes several suggestions for change, noting the UK Labour Party had recently created an online platform for survivors to anonymously report harassment, but concludes the small size of the New Zealand party would not allow for anonymity.

Instead, it suggests a member of the NZ Council be empowered to act as a survivor advocate.

The Labour Party began a review of its harassment and bullying processes in 2018, after barrister Maria Austen delivered her report into the handling of the Young Labour summer camp sexual assault allegations.

A 21-year-old man was originally charged with five counts of indecent assault after the summer camp incident, but pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court on September 2 to two amended charges of assault. All other charges were dismissed.

The Opposition has pointed to the fact that Ardern positioned Labour as the party of the #metoo movement.

Last year she told the United Nations General Assembly in New York that "#metoo must become #wetoo. We are all in this together".'