"New Zealand introduces historic Bill in first step toward ending modern slavery", 29 January 2026

Following years of advocacy, Aotearoa New Zealand is moving forward to combat modern slavery. With bipartisan support, a new legislative framework has today been introduced to improve supply chain transparency and strengthen protections for workers.

New Zealand’s long-awaited bill puts tackling modern slavery on a solid legislative footing, but falls short of meeting current global standards.

The latest Global Slavery Index estimates 50 million people globally are living in modern slavery, including 8,000 in New Zealand…

What the modern slavery bill includes

• Mandatory public reporting for businesses with annual revenue above NZ$100 million
• Obligations focused on transparency and responsible supply chain management, including reporting on the number of complaints made, whether any modern slavery incidents have occurred and measures to address them
• Offences, pecuniary penalties and a director’s liability framework for business non-compliance
• Modern slavery recognised as a priority area for the Human Rights Commission
• Legal definitions that better align with international standards on forced labour and trafficking…

It has more robust enforcement mechanisms, with penalties for non-compliance and associated Director liability, but falls short of mandating human rights due diligence.

Serena Grant, Director, Business and Human Rights, Walk Free, said: “This is a pivotal moment and the result of years of advocacy with our partners.

“The proposed law goes further than the Australian and UK models, with the inclusion of penalties and liability for Directors as well as more robust reporting requirements.

“In particular, asking businesses to report on complaints received as well as whether they have found any incidents of modern slavery is crucial.

“This will give investors and other stakeholders more robust data to understand how much action a company is taking to address risks…

What New Zealand businesses can expect

For businesses, the Bill represents both responsibility and opportunity.

Reporting entities will be required to map supply chains, strengthen procurement processes, and publish clear disclosures.

Many New Zealand businesses have already started preparing voluntarily.

They recognise action is essential to maintain competitiveness, safeguard exports, and build trust with consumers and international partners.

The national framework creates clear expectations and greater consistency across the market…