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Article

28 Jul 2017

Author:
Mei Heron

New Zealand: Authorities look overseas for answers as human trafficking and worker exploitation become more common in the country

"Human Trafficking 'definitely a problem' in NZ" RNZ New Zealand, 27 July 2017

Authorities are looking overseas for answers as they acknowledge human trafficking and exploitation are starting to become a much larger problem in New Zealand...

Labour Inspectorate general manager George Mason said worker exploitation was starting to become more common in New Zealand. "It's important that the government's able to come together with business, with civil society, [and] with NGOs to deal with a problem which is actually manifesting in New Zealand whether we like to acknowledge that or not."...it was hard to quantify how large the problem was, Mr Mason said.

"It's revealing itself through the work of the Labour Inspectorate and the industry itself is doing...only now getting our heads around the fact that it is here and we do have to deal with it...increasingly evident that in particular pockets it can be substantial, it's not really possible to put numbers around it, but it is definitely a problem that we have to address."

The British organisation Unseen played a major part in drafting and promoting the UK Modern Slavery Act...Director Justine Currell said that's been an important step in her country's fight against trafficking and exploitation...[NZ] Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said "I'd like to watch and see how it goes in the next year or two"...

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