Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan

The Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan will be delivered as part of the New Zealand Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Strategy 2026 to 2030.

Learn more about the Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime strategy on the New Zealand Police website.

Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime strategy(external link) — New Zealand Police website

About the Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan

The Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan is New Zealand's 5-year framework for strengthening the response to trafficking in persons.

To learn more, read the full Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan.

Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan [PDF 904KB](external link) — Immigration New Zealand

What is trafficking in persons

Trafficking in persons is a serious crime that occurs when people are recruited, transported, harboured or controlled for the purpose of exploitation.

It can take many forms, including:

• forced labour
• forced criminality
• sexual exploitation
• forced marriage
• domestic servitude.

The Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan mission

The goal is to deliver an effective, co-ordinated whole-of-system approach to trafficking in persons with a focus on awareness, prevention, protection of victims, and collective accountability across government.

The goal of the Plan

• Improve awareness and public understanding of trafficking in persons in New Zealand, including risks and vulnerabilities to exploitation.
• Provide for earlier and more consistent identification of victims, supported by a coordinated and accessible victim support system.
• Build greater coordination across government, private sector, civil society and international partners with improved system data, monitoring, and reporting.
• Strengthen enforcement responses to effectively detect, disrupt, and hold offenders to account.
• Improve system responses to prevent and address trafficking in persons’ risks for vulnerable populations, including women and children.

The 4 pillars

The Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan is guided by 4 pillars. Together, they support a coordinated national response to trafficking in persons.

Partnership

Strengthening collaboration between government agencies, community organisations, businesses, international partners and others involved in preventing and responding to trafficking in persons.

Protection

Improving the identification of victims and survivors and helping ensure they can access timely and appropriate support.

Prevention

Building awareness, strengthening capability across sectors and reducing the conditions that enable trafficking and exploitation to occur.

Prosecution and enforcement

Supporting efforts to investigate offending, disrupt trafficking activity and hold offenders to account.

Working together to prevent trafficking

Responding effectively to trafficking in persons requires a coordinated effort across government, businesses, community organisations, international partners and people working directly with vulnerable communities.

Combating trafficking is a shared responsibility. By raising awareness, recognising signs of exploitation and reporting concerns, everyone can play a role in helping prevent harm and protect vulnerable people.

Government agencies involved in the development and implementation include:

• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
• New Zealand Police
• Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children
• Ministry for Pacific Peoples
• Ministry of Education
• Ministry for Ethnic Communities
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Social Development
• Ministry for Women
• New Zealand Customs Service
• Department of Internal Affairs
• Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora.

Get help or report concerns

If someone is in immediate danger, call 111.

If you believe someone may be experiencing trafficking, exploitation or other forms of serious harm, contact the appropriate authorities for advice or assistance.

Report people trafficking(external link) — Immigration New Zealand

Further information

Trafficking can affect people of any age, nationality or background and is not always obvious.

Understanding the signs of trafficking and knowing where to get help are important steps in preventing harm and protecting vulnerable people.

Find more information on stopping people trafficking on the Immigration New Zealand website.

Stopping people trafficking(external link) — Immigration New Zealand

Get help for victims of people trafficking(external link) — Immigration New Zealand