People trafficking is a crime against humanity that crosses international borders and damages untold lives. It is the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring and receiving a person through the use of force, coercion or other means for the purpose of exploiting them.  While the most well-known form of trafficking involves women who are used for sexual purposes, people trafficking of men, women and children for forced labour is also emerging as an international trend.

While New Zealand has no known experience of trafficking, the Government is continually working to prevent people trafficking and to prepare for dealing with any cases that may arise. The Plan of Action to Prevent People Trafficking puts specific strategies in place to prosecute people traffickers, as well as the means to assist their victims.  As any effective response against people trafficking demands a whole-of-government response, this plan outlines a range of tasks for participating agencies to achieve over the short, medium and long term. 

There are several reasons for developing this Plan of Action. As a signatory to the United Nations Trafficking Protocol, New Zealand is required to develop strategies for preventing and combating people trafficking.  As a member of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, New Zealand also made a pledge to develop a practical plan of action to prevent people trafficking.  This Plan of Action fulfils that pledge, and its publication will let the world know what New Zealand is doing to help bring an end to this complex international crime.

The Plan of Action was developed by government agencies working together including the Departments of Labour and Prime Minister and Cabinet; the Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Health, Social Development, and Women's Affairs; and the New Zealand Police and Customs Service.  Our approach was informed by New Zealand's international obligations, the views and comments of stakeholders with an interest in trafficking issues and international research into anti-trafficking strategies. 

The Government is committed to preventing and detecting people trafficking, bringing offenders to justice and offering protection and assistance to victims of trafficking.   As Minister of Immigration, I thank everyone who was involved in developing this coordinated, whole-of-government response to people trafficking.