How Bad Laws Get Made

How Bad Laws Get Made

The Modern Slavery Bill does not actually outlaw slavery. Slavery, people trafficking, sexual exploitation, blackmail, it’s all illegal in New Zealand.

Large New Zealand entities to face new laws on modern slavery

Comment: A proposed Modern Slavery bill will impose new requirements for certain New Zealand businesses to publish statements including a description of incidents and risks of modern slavery. This is less onerous than the due diligence duties initially canvassed in 2022, but nevertheless represents a significant regulatory burden for entities caught by the new regime. The bill will apply to all companies (and various other specified entities) op…

There’s finally a bipartisan modern-day slavery bill. How will it work?

Labour and National are working together to pass the bill, which would require companies to investigate their supply chains for risks of forced labour.

New Zealand’s Modern Slavery and Worker Exploitation Bill could bring mandatory reporting for large organisations - VinciWorks

New Zealand is moving again on modern slavery reform, this time with a bill designed to put clear, business-facing expectations into law. In late January 2026, New Zealand National Party and New Zealand Labour Party MPs lodged a co-sponsored Modern Slavery and Worker Exploitation Bill, using a parliamentary mechanism that allows a Member’s Bill to be introduced automatically once it has support from at least 61 non-executive MPs (Standing Order …