How to recognise trafficking and what support is available for people whose case is reported and certified as people trafficking by New Zealand Police.
People trafficking is the process of moving someone using coercion or deception, or so they can be badly exploited. People trafficking can take place across borders or entirely within a country.
What is people trafficking? Information for the community and government PDF 2MB
People trafficking does not only happen to migrants, though migrants can be particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on others for visas, jobs or money, or their unfamiliarity with local laws, customs and languages.
Migrant victims in particular are often tricked with false promises of jobs or schooling then badly exploited once they arrive in New Zealand. Exploitation can include being forced to work by threats of violence, threats of deportation or to repay debts. This work can include sex work, domestic work like cooking and cleaning or work in a restaurant, shop or labouring.
Victims do not usually realise they have been trafficked and may blame themselves for getting themselves into a dangerous situation. Sometimes people agree to their initial movement and some degree of exploitation only to find out once they are unable to leave or resist, that the actual situation is much worse than they expected.
Are you in a trafficking situation? Ask yourself:
A person may need help if they:
View and download this information in:
If you, or someone you know, might have been trafficked and:
Phone: 0508 558 855
Email: inz.complianceinvestigations@mbie.govt.nz
After your report has been received, the information you give is assessed.
The assessment is to see whether you can be certified as a victim of people trafficking by New Zealand Police (NZ Police). The certification process is done by Immigration New Zealand and NZ Police. You do not apply to be certified as a victim of people trafficking.
If NZ Police certify you as a victim of people trafficking, you (or the person you reported on behalf of) can access support services in New Zealand that may not otherwise have been available.
Access to Victim Support services is available for:
The New Zealand Government is committed to eliminating people trafficking and protecting victims, including those victims who may have breached their visas or who are in New Zealand unlawfully.
Police-certified victims of people trafficking can apply for special visas that allow them to stay in New Zealand and work, study or live here permanently in some cases.
Police-certified victims of people trafficking are eligible to receive publically funded healthcare under Section B12 of the Ministry of Health’s Eligibility Direction.
Health and Disability Services Eligibility Direction 2011
Police-certified victims of people trafficking may be eligible for welfare support, administered by the Ministry of Social Development, under Clause 15E of the Special Needs Grants Programme.
Clause 15E. Victims of people trafficking | Work and Income
Exploitation is not always connected to people trafficking but exploitation alone can have significant impacts on victims.
There is a special work visa available for migrants who have been exploited by their employer, even if they have not been trafficked. This is called the Migrant Exploitation and Protection Work Visa.
Information valid as at 2023/11/16 15:37:44.328780 GMT+13