New Zealand continues its efforts to combat people trafficking through collaboration with partner agencies both domestically and internationally.
Authorities aim to identify, prevent, and respond to various forms of human exploitation occurring within their borders and across regions.
According to Immigration New Zealand, people trafficking is not limited to border crossings. It can also occur entirely within the country, affecting both migrants and New Zealand citizens. Trafficking often involves coercion, deception, or abuse of power, resulting in forced labour, sexual exploitation, or other forms of control.
Forms of Exploitation in People Trafficking
Immigration New Zealand identifies several types of exploitation common in trafficking cases. These include:
- Forced labour and labour exploitation, where individuals are made to work under threats or without proper compensation. This includes illegal or undocumented employment and often involves coercion.
- Child labour, defined as work performed by anyone under 18 that harms their development or interferes with their education.
- Sexual exploitation, covering coerced involvement in the sex trade or other sexual abuse.
- Domestic servitude, in which domestic workers are unable to leave their employment, may be isolated from the outside world, and are often underpaid or not paid at all.
- Forced marriage: where individuals are compelled to marry without their free consent.
- Debt bondage: where services are provided in an attempt to repay a debt that is intentionally made impossible to settle.
- Serfdom: which binds a person to live and work on land they cannot leave.
- Child exploitation: involves the use of children for personal, sexual, or financial gain.
- Forced criminality: in which individuals are made to commit illegal acts, including drug production or distribution.
Legal Action and Convictions in New Zealand
The agency revealed that since 2015, four people trafficking prosecutions have been recorded in New Zealand, with two resulting in convictions. Law enforcement agencies such as the New Zealand Police and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) are responsible for investigating allegations.
In one case, a man was convicted in 2016 for trafficking 15 individuals from Fiji to New Zealand. He received a prison sentence of nine years and six months and was ordered to pay $28,000 in compensation to the victims.
A second man, involved in related offences, was sentenced to one year of home detention and ordered to pay $55,000 in compensation. His house was confiscated in 2021 after it was found that some of the funds used to purchase the property came from the exploitation of the victims.
Another conviction in March 2020 involved a man found guilty of eight people trafficking and thirteen slavery charges. The offences affected 13 Samoan nationals between 1994 and 2017. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 6.5 years. He was also ordered to pay $215,000 in compensation to the victims.
Under Section 98D of the Crimes Act 1961, people trafficking is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000. Additional penalties include the confiscation of assets gained through trafficking and court-ordered victim compensation.
International and Regional Cooperation
Details reveal that New Zealand works with other countries to address cross-border trafficking. These efforts include joint investigations, training programs, and participation in international dialogues focused on tackling trafficking and smuggling operations.
New Zealand is also a member of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, a regional forum that includes over 45 member states and international organisations. The forum supports cooperation in responding to irregular migration in the Asia-Pacific region.
New Zealand also co-chairs the Bali Process Disruption Working Group, which works to improve coordination among countries to disrupt organised trafficking networks.
Ongoing Efforts and Enforcement
Authorities in New Zealand continue to investigate all allegations of people trafficking. Because trafficking often occurs in hidden environments, officials believe that reported cases likely represent only a portion of the issue. Law enforcement and immigration officials encourage the public to report suspected cases and are committed to prosecuting offenders under national and international laws.
