USE YOUR VOICE 

Protect children from trafficking
in New Zealand 

Every child in New Zealand should be safe and free to enjoy their childhood.

But New Zealand’s anti-human trafficking laws have a significant gap that leaves children vulnerable to exploitation. 

Write a submission

Under our current law, a case is only considered trafficking if there is evidence of the survivor being coerced or deceived, regardless of their age. However, international standards (such as those outlined in the Palermo Protocol) determine that coercion and/or deception is irrelevant when the survivor is a child.  

The discrepancy means there are cases of child trafficking that aren’t being legally recognised as trafficking in New Zealand. 

Why is this a problem?  

The discrepancy makes it even harder for:   

  • exploited children to find the support they need 

  • traffickers to be made accountable for their crimes 

  • for us to understand the true scale of child trafficking in New Zealand  

Right now, we have a rare chance to change this!  

Crucial sections of the Crimes Act that address trafficking and slavery are up for amendment (being changed). A Bill is moving through Parliament with the aim of toughening penalties for traffickers, ensuring they face justice for their crimes.  

There’s a powerful opportunity here! The Government has opened for submissions to hear what members of the public think about these changes. We have a real chance with public support to push this Bill to go even further and include strengthening the definition of child trafficking.  

Together we can make this happen.  

You can write a submission to the Government – and join us in calling for better protection for children in New Zealand. 

What is a submission?

A submission is a chance for individuals, groups and organisations to share their opinions and recommendations on proposed laws. 

 

Here’s how to make a submission 

Step 1: Open the submission webpage. 

Click the button below to access the Government’s submission page in a new tab or window. To make it easier, you can arrange this page and the submission page side-by-side on your screen. 

Open submission webpage

 

Step 2: Start your submission. 

On the submission page: 

  1. Read through the submission page.  
  2. Click ‘I am ready to make my submission.’ 
  3. Indicate if you are submitting as an individual or representing an organisation. 
  4. Choose whether you’d like to make an oral submission as well. 
     

Step 3: Fill in your personal information. 

Complete the form with your details. 

  • Important: Your name and submission will be publicly visible, but your contact information will remain private. 
     

Step 4: Write your submission. 

Use the template below as a guide. Feel free to copy, paste, and personalise it in the submission box.  

Template: 

I wish to make the following comments: 

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on The Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill. I support stronger measures to address trafficking in persons and protect people in New Zealand, particularly tamariki. 

I wish to make the following recommendation: 

I strongly urge you to extend the Bill to include an important change to the definition of trafficking in persons in section 98D of the Crimes Act 1961. Specifically, I recommend strengthening the definition by making evidence of ‘coercion’ or ‘deception’ irrelevant when the victim is a child. 

This change would align New Zealand’s definition of child trafficking with international standards, support better identification and protection of exploited children, and enable more effective prosecution of traffickers. 

Thank you for considering my submission. 

 

Step 5: Submit your submission.  

Before you submit: 

  • Review your submission to check you’re happy with it.  

  • Read the privacy statement to ensure you’re comfortable with the information being shared. 

When you’re ready, click ‘Submit’ to complete the process.

Start here

Thank you for advocating to see the definition of child trafficking strengthened in the Crimes Act!