Strengthening New Zealand’s Child Trafficking Definition to Better Protect Tamariki

02 Mar 2023
Strengthening New Zealand’s Child Trafficking Definition to Better Protect Tamariki

As Chair of the Human Trafficking Research Coalition, we've been advocating for New Zealand’s definition to be amended so that the prevalence of child trafficking in New Zealand can be ascertained accurately and addressed appropriately.

Amendments to the Crimes Act have been consistently recommended by the US Trafficking in Persons report and human rights reviews of New Zealand law. In 2021, New Zealand was downgraded in its global ranking as the New Zealand Government ‘does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking’. In March 2022 on Child Exploitation Awareness Day, 15 New Zealand NGOs wrote a letter to the Minister for Children requesting the law change to better protect New Zealand children. To date there has been no action from the Minister, but there have been positive steps taken by Labour MP Ginny Anderson.

In October 2022, the Government released the Crimes (Trafficking in Persons) Amendment Bill, a members’ bill which seeks to remove the requirement of “coercion and deception”. The passing of this Amendment Bill would mean we have greater powers to prosecute those who prey on innocent children.

Because New Zealand’s definition of child trafficking is not fit for purpose under the Crimes Act 1961, child trafficking in New Zealand is often prosecuted under the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, which carries lesser penalties for perpetrators. As we don’t define child trafficking correctly or consistently, it’s difficult to ascertain the prevalence of child trafficking in New Zealand and address it appropriately.

Click here to watch World Vision’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, explains why amending this law is in the best interests of children at Select Committee.