New Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan agreed

The New Zealand Government has agreed a new Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan to strengthen New Zealand's response to trafficking.

Trafficking in persons is a serious crime that can take many forms, including forced labour, forced criminality, sexual exploitation, forced marriage and domestic servitude. It can be difficult to identify because it often occurs out of public view.  

To further combat this hidden crime, the Government has agreed a new Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan (the Plan) to strengthen New Zealand’s response to trafficking in persons. 

The Plan sets out a framework for:

• preventing trafficking in persons
• improving support for victims and survivors
• strengthening coordination across agencies and partners, and
• helping ensure offenders are held to account. 

It will do this through practical actions to improve awareness, strengthen victim identification and support, build capability across sectors, and improve coordination between agencies and community partners. 

The new Plan supports efforts to address transnational, serious and organised crime in New Zealand. 

Led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the Plan has been developed with input from government agencies and non-government stakeholders. It includes a strategic framework and a set of actions to be delivered collaboratively over the next 5 years. 

The Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan is expected to be published in late September 2026. Further information will be available once it is released.