New Zealand
Modern Slavery Bill New Zealand: reporting duties to prepare for
New Zealand does not yet run a finished Modern Slavery Act register like Australia. It does have a live parliamentary track: the Modern Slavery Bill (member’s bill 242-1). If it passes in something like its current form, large entities will publish annual statements and lodge them on a government register. This guide translates the bill’s thresholds and duties into a prep checklist.
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Key takeaways
- Bill 242-1 would require entities with consolidated revenue above NZ$100 million (with a New Zealand nexus) to prepare an annual modern slavery statement.
- Statements would be published on the entity’s website and lodged on a new electronic public register within six months after a 1 April to 31 March reporting period.
- Failure risks include a fine up to NZ$200,000 and a civil pecuniary penalty up to NZ$600,000, with non-compliance details publishable on the register for three years.
- Even before Royal Assent, NZ suppliers are already asked for statements and policies by overseas buyers. Start from the statement template.
Bill numbers at a glance
Figures below are from the official bill text on legislation.govt.nz. They can change in select committee or later amendments. Treat them as the current draft, not final law.
- Revenue threshold
- NZ$100 million
- Reporting period
- 1 Apr – 31 Mar
- Lodge statement within
- 6 months
- Max fine (offence)
- NZ$200,000
- Max civil penalty
- NZ$600,000
- Non-compliance on register
- 3 years
Consolidated revenue in a reporting period.
After the reporting period ends.
Basis: Bill text as published on legislation.govt.nz
Where the Modern Slavery Bill NZ sits today
People search for a modern slavery act NZ because Australia and the UK already have Acts. In New Zealand the live instrument is still a Bill. The official text is published as the Modern Slavery Bill on legislation.govt.nz. Until it receives Royal Assent and commencement, there is no statutory NZ register filing duty under this bill.
That does not mean "do nothing". Large NZ groups that already report under Australian or UK law, and exporters selling into those markets, should keep those regimes current. Smaller NZ suppliers still face portal uploads when overseas customers demand proof.
Who would have to report
Under the draft, a reporting entity is an entity whose consolidated revenue meets or exceeds the threshold and that, at any time in the period, was a New Zealand entity or an overseas company carrying on business in New Zealand. Entities that control such an entity can also be pulled in. Regulations could prescribe additional entities.
If you are under NZ$100 million, you are outside that draft statutory net. You can still be asked for a statement or modern slavery policy by a customer. Voluntary preparation against the bill’s content list is the easiest way to answer that ask without waiting for commencement.
What the statement must cover (draft)
Clause 9 of the bill lists mandatory content. Use it as your outline even while the bill is still moving.
- 1
Entity, structure, operations and supply chains
Name the reporting entity and describe domestic and international operations, including entities you own or control.
- 2
Incidents and risks
Describe any modern slavery incidents and known or anticipated risks in operations and supply chains.
- 3
Actions taken
Explain due diligence, prevention, mitigation and remediation, including what owned or controlled entities do.
- 4
Complaints and effectiveness
Report complaint volumes, investigation and remediation measures, and how you judge whether actions are working.
- 5
Training and consultation
Describe training for employees (and supply-chain workers where relevant) and consultation undertaken.
- 6
Approve, publish and lodge
Get authorised-person sign-off, publish free of charge on your site, and (once the register exists) submit within six months of period end.
NZ bill vs Australia’s Modern Slavery Act
Australian groups with NZ operations often ask how close the drafts are. High level only.
| NZ Bill 242-1 (draft) | Australia Modern Slavery Act 2018 | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Bill in Parliament; no finished NZ register yet | In force, with a live Commonwealth statements register |
| Headline threshold | NZ$100m consolidated revenue (draft) | AU$100m consolidated revenue for mandatory reporters |
| Reporting period | Fixed 1 April to 31 March in the draft | Aligned to the entity’s reporting period under the Act |
| Publication | Own website plus government electronic register | Lodge on modernslaveryregister.gov.au (and usually publish on your site) |
What to prepare now
Build the evidence pack before the register opens: entity map, top suppliers, risk notes, and the actions you can defend in a board paper. Use a risk assessment worksheet if you need a structured pass over categories of spend.
If you already file in Australia or the UK, reuse diligence rather than writing a second fiction. Align NZ-facing copy to the bill’s headings so a later NZ lodge is an edit, not a rewrite. Peer guides: Modern Slavery Act Australia, Modern Slavery Act UK.
Download the statement template
Get the editable Modern Slavery statement template and start filling the draft NZ content headings while the bill progresses.
FAQs
Does New Zealand have modern slavery legislation?+
What is the New Zealand Bill 242-1?+
What is modern slavery legislation?+
Which countries have a modern slavery act?+
Should NZ companies under NZ$100m still write a statement?+
Related guides
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