This recommendation paper was published in the
context of Aotearoa New Zealand entering public
consultation for regulating modern slavery in supply
chains in 2022. It provided direction for a
legislative design that was compliant with
international developments and, at the same time,
considered Aotearoa New Zealand’s geopolitical and
cultural context. It was not a response to the
Government’s consultation proposal, but rather an
independent resource, setting out recommendations
based on research and the authors’ modern slavery
law and practice expertise.
It requires reporting entities to report on how they
identify, address, mitigate and remediate the risks
of trafficking in persons and broader forms of
modern slavery within their operations and supply
chains. It also establishes an Independent
Anti-Slavery Commissioner as an independent
statutory officer. Additionally, this Bill
strengthens the legal framework for trafficking in
persons offences and the protection of victims.
These updates align definitions with international
standards, and enhance the enforcement of criminal
provisions and compliance, ensuring that operations
and supply chain reporting obligations on entities
are supported by a robust legal framework.
This report provides annotated insights and analysis
of the Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Modern
Day Forms of Slavery Bill (Modern Slavery Bill).