Networking Event: How Businesses Should Prepare for Modern Slavery Reform in New Zealand

In early 2026, a cross-party modern slavery bill was introduced into the New Zealand Parliament, a signal of serious momentum towards formal regulation. 

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New Zealand prides itself as a just and ethical nation. But modern slavery legislation remains a significant gap in our corporate regulatory landscape. With key trading partners including the UK, Australia and Canada already operating under modern slavery laws, and others moving toward forced labour import bans, New Zealand risks falling out of alignment with global standards.

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Besides being a serious human rights abuse, modern slavery erodes long-term business value. It creates risk for investors, weakens supply chain resilience and undermines access to capital. Appropriate legislation creates the level playing field that responsible businesses need.
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The evening will feature a panel discussion with leaders who have campaigned for modern slavery reform and worked in jurisdictions where reporting regimes are already live, bringing both advocacy experience and hard-won operational insight to the room. 
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Alongside the panel, there will be meaningful time set aside for peer conversation, designed for professionals who are serious about getting ahead of reform and preparing their organisations for what is coming.

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What we’ll discuss:

• What the cross-party bill signals: What is in the proposed bill, why its cross-party support matters, and what it tells us about the future direction of regulation in New Zealand.
  
  
• Lessons from other jurisdictions: What organisations in other modern slavery reporting regimes have learned, and how to avoid the compliance traps that catch many businesses off guard.
  
  
• How New Zealand businesses can prepare now: Practical steps for preparing for reporting and how to embed proactive due diligence into procurement and supplier management, regardless of legislative timing.

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Who this event is for:

Senior leaders responsible for procurement, sustainability, ESG, legal, risk or compliance who are serious about getting ahead of reform and preparing their organisations for what is coming. This event is also relevant for executives and board members who want to better understand and respond to upcoming legislation with confidence. Places are limited to keep the quality of conversations high.