People trafficking still happens in New Zealand. Since 2015, there have been four people trafficking prosecutions, two of which were successfully convicted. In 2016, Walkfree estimated that around 3,000 people in New Zealand were in conditions of modern slavery.

Walk Free Foundation Pacific Report 2020

30 July is the United Nations World Day against Trafficking in Persons. People trafficking is the process of moving someone using coercion or deception with the purpose usually being to exploit them. It often happens entirely within a country, and not just to migrants. New Zealand citizens and residents can be victims too. Exploitation can happen before people realise how bad a situation is, and a person may agree to a degree of exploitation to later find out they are unable to leave or resist.

If you suspect someone is a victim of people trafficking, contact the New Zealand Police:

• Call 111 (in an emergency only) or 105
• Go online to 105.police.govt.nz

If you wish to remain anonymous:

• Call CrimeStoppers 0800 555 111, or
• www.crimestoppers-nz.org

If you suspect someone has been exploited at work, contact MBIE:

• Call 0800 20 00 88 or fill at a form at reportmigrantexploitation.employment.govt.nz

World Day against Human Trafficking newsletter | The modern slavery and labour exploitation advisory group