Trafficking and Modern Slavery - Rev Chris Frazer
Presentation to the trafficking and modern slavery conference in Durgapur, India - November 2025
Kia ora koutou , I bring you greetings from the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand/ Polynesia. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address this important consultation on people trafficking and our role as a church in addressing this issue.
There is a Maori proverb that states,
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata he tangata he tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people it is people it is people!
This proverb emphasizes the importance of human connection, relationships, and the value of every individual within any given community. It highlights that people are at the heart of everything, shaping communities and enabling collective flourishing. thriving relationships of equality are built on mutual respect, shared decision-making, and an understanding that all of God’s family/whanau’s needs and feelings are equally important.
Modern slavery is undeniably the complete antithesis of caring for one another. It represents the ultimate exploitation of one human being by another, stripping victims of their fundamental human rights, dignity, and autonomy, directly contrasting with the principles of empathy, respect, and mutual care that are essential for a just and compassionate society.
How then can churches, NGOs and civil society work together to combat this crime? In conversations we are having in Aotearoa we are seeking to more effectively address this ever challenging question. Those we are engaging in this conversation feel as we do that Churches, NGOs, Government and civil society can effectively combat modern slavery, through a multi-agency, multidisciplinary, and collaborative approach which is focused on the interconnected strategies of prevention, protection, prosecution, policy, partnership, and participation.
This past year the Diocese has focussed on Working in partnerships with government staff, human rights groups, embassies, businesses, churches, and non-government agencies. Representing our Diocese, we are, as a church, seated around the tables of government, embassies, and numerous other civil society organisations.
We listen and learn, and we are heard and consulted. Within these conversations we are in agreement that Informed and appropriate awareness raising is essential, as are training resources for people/organisations working within the anti trafficking/labour exploitation space. As Deacon for social justice, I have taken key issues of injustice into the church through sermons and contributing to the publishing of articles/newsletters, that are widely shared. Furthermore, never underestimate the value of morning tea conversations with parishioners following such services.
Key statistics and information on trafficking in persons in New Zealand highlights:
Prevalence: The 2023 Global Slavery Index, based on 2021 data, estimated 8,000 individuals in modern slavery in New Zealand, which is a rate of 1.6 victims per 1,000 people. This places New Zealand among the countries with the lowest prevalence globally but highlights the existence of the problem domestically.
Official Reports & Investigations: The actual number of formal trafficking cases is much lower than the prevalence estimates, as it is considered a "hidden crime" that is hard to detect.
From June 2023 to May 2024, Immigration New Zealand received 1,097 complaints with possible indicators of people trafficking, which led to 378 investigations.
As of July 2025, New Zealand authorities were investigating over 40 trafficking offences.
Forms of Trafficking: Cases have been reported across various sectors, including horticulture, construction, hospitality, and the sex industry, involving both migrant workers and New Zealand citizens.
Convictions: Since 2015, there have been only a few convictions for people trafficking, further illustrating the difficulty in prosecuting these crimes.
International Ranking: New Zealand is currently ranked at Tier 2 in the U.S. State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, meaning the government is not fully compliant with the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.
Some recent Legislative Amendments that have been initiated we believe is a positive step forward. These being,
Crimes Act 1961 Changes: In August and September 2025, amendments were made to strengthen anti-trafficking laws, including removing the requirement to prove coercion or deception occurred when the victim is under 18, and explicitly stating that consent is irrelevant in such cases or when coercion is present.
Adoption Law Changes: Unsafe international adoptions have been temporarily suspended via the Adoption Amendment Bill to close loopholes that allowed convicted abusers and traffickers to bring children into New Zealand, placing them at risk of exploitation.
Migrant Worker Protections: The government has introduced measures to better protect temporary migrant workers, including a dedicated 0800 number for reporting exploitation and a specific visa to allow victims to leave exploitative situations and remain lawfully in New Zealand.
Modern Slavery Supply Chain Legislation: Two member's bills have been introduced in Parliament proposing mandatory reporting requirements for large companies (over $50 million revenue) on modern slavery risks in their supply chains, with the potential for cross-party support.
As I finish, I want to once more highlight the reality that, at present, our anti trafficking responses largely remain downstream. To focus more upstream in combating human trafficking in New Zealand and indeed in the rest of the world, strategies must address root causes and vulnerabilities before exploitation occurs, primarily through education and awareness, addressing economic insecurity, and strengthening legislation and supply chain transparency.
Above all we must address key outstanding issues such as the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations and rampant consumerism that is addicted to cheap goods and the two for the price of one bargains.
Rev. Chris Frazer
Deacon for Social Justice
