Auckland Networking Evening: Modern Slavery Legislation and what's ahead for New Zealand Businesses

New Zealand's Modern Slavery Bill passed its first reading in Parliament in April 2026 with near-unanimous cross-party support. It is now before the Education and Workforce Select Committee, with a report due at the end of August. The sponsors of the Bill have indicated a desire to pass the legislation before the General Election in November 2026. With no transition relief indicated, the legislative timeline could be a lot tighter than many organisations realise.

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This networking event focuses on what the Bill requires: who is covered, what needs to be reported, and what compliance looks like in practice. Fair Supply Co-Founder and CEO Kimberly Randle, who presented a written submission and oral evidence to the Education and Workforce Select Committee in June 2026, will share the evidence behind Fair Supply’s recommendations, and what New Zealand businesses can learn from eight years of Australian modern slavery reporting experience.

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What we'll cover:

• Progress of the Bill and the key milestones to watch before Royal Assent
• Fair Supply's submission to the Select Committee: the recommendations made and the reasoning behind them
• The Australian playbook: the most common mistakes reporting entities make, and how New Zealand businesses can avoid repeating them
• Practical steps businesses can take to start preparing

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Who should attend

Senior leaders responsible for procurement, sustainability, ESG, legal, risk or compliance in New Zealand organisations. Places are limited to keep the quality of conversation high.

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