Law School expert on Modern Slavery Bill

Law School expert on Modern Slavery Bill

Expertise from AUT Law School has helped inform the Modern Slavery Bill 2026, currently making its way through Parliament with cross-party support.

The term 'modern slavery' covers crimes such as forced labour, debt bondage, human trafficking, and child labour. It occurs when people cannot refuse or leave a situation of exploitation due to threats, violence, coercion, or deception. Research shows that globally, there are an estimated 50 million people living in modern slavery today; in New Zealand, that number is approximately 8,000.

New Zealand entities are connected to this exploitation through their domestic supply chains and operations as well as through their global supply chains. In 2022, 10% of New Zealand's total imports were linked to forced or child labour. The proposed law would see captured entities reporting on how they identify, address, mitigate, and remediate incidents of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. Similar laws exist in Australia, UK, the EU and elsewhere.

AUT Law School lecturer Selwyn Coles specialises in modern slavery. Alongside several academic publications in this area, he has advised companies in the UK and New Zealand on human rights and modern slavery issues. Since joining the Law School in late 2025, Selwyn has been actively engaged in discussions about modern slavery in NZ, and his expertise has helped inform the Modern Slavery Bill itself.

When the Bill was introduced to the House earlier this year, co-sponsor Greg Fleming cited Selwyn's University of Oxford Master's thesis on modern slavery law, describing it as "an incredibly thoughtful piece of work ... [that] canvassed well all of the objections and the doubts about the efficacy of the proposed law".

Selwyn, who submitted to the Select Committee hearing in April, acknowledges the challenges of the legislation, especially in ensuring it makes a meaningful difference in the lives of exploited workers, in Aotearoa and offshore.

"Throughout my research, I wrestled with the question, 'Does modern slavery legislation really work? And how can we know?'"

Selwyn's research involves carefully listening to the different experiences and views of key stakeholders from government, civil society, and the business community. To that end, he engages with and speaks at hui with business network and within AUT.

As an advocate for the new legislation, Selwyn cautions its effectiveness will depend on how the law is drafted and implemented - including how it will draw from international experience while being tailored to New Zealand. He is particularly concerned that this country does not shy away from hard questions about:

• the respective roles of government and business;
• how companies can effectively exercise influence over complex, global supply chains; and
• when and how entities should disengage from risky suppliers without exacerbating harm.

"This is where the rubber really hits the road in terms of effectiveness," says Selwyn. "I also acknowledge these questions can feel overwhelming for companies." He says while stakeholder views are varied, a common theme is the importance of proper support and guidance, especially for SMEs. "Collaboration is also critical to effectiveness - within the business community, and also with government and community groups."

The Modern Slavery Bill 2026 is due back from the Select Committee in August. If passed, the Bill will come into effect six months after it is enacted.

Useful links

• Read about Selwyn Coles
• Study at AUT Law School