Human Rights For Business

Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that protect all people equally. They are based on dignity, fairness and respect. 

Businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights in their operations. This includes workforce, supply chain, products and services. 

"The responsibility to respect human rights is a global standard of expected conduct for all business enterprises wherever they operate...[It] exists over and above compliance with national laws and regulations protecting human rights." (UN Human Rights Council)

There is increasing global onvergence to the implementation of human rights in business. Embedding human rights into a companies business practice makes good business sense. 

Read our articles

Why New Zealand’s much-needed modern slavery legislation must be created in coherence with other policies

Full article with NBR published 28 November 2021. Significant developments in the work towards a New Zealand Modern Slavery Act this year. Last week [18 Nov], we reached another milestone whenRead more

New research linking New Zealand imports to child labour

World Vision New Zealand published research on 29 April that showed New Zealanders imported approximately NZD 3.1 billion risky products in 2019. That equated to 5% of all spend of imports and aroundRead more

Government urged to move fast on modern slavery law

Newsroom article published by Sam Sachdeva on 9 March 2021 copied in full below. The Government is being urged to move swiftly on plans to tackle modern slavery through a new law, as Covid-19 worsensRead more

ANZ Human Rights Review

Business and Human Rights Consultants is pleased to be part of the external multi-stakeholder working group for ANZ's human rights review. In 2020 ANZ committed to review and strengthen its humanRead more

New Centre for Research on Modern Slavery Established

Business and Human Rights Consultants is pleased to be an Advisory Member for the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery.  See the press release here. Thursday, 10 September 2020, 4:03 pm PressRead more

Directors duties - modern slavery

New Zealand directors of company boards have specific responsibility for signing off modern slavery statements. It is estimated 500 NZ companies have to report to the Commonwealth Modern Slavery ActRead more

UN World Day against Trafficking in Persons

30 July is the UN World Day against Trafficking in Persons. On this day, it's good to remind ourselves that human trafficking and slavery takes place in New Zealand supply chains and may be occurringRead more

Addressing worker exploitation in New Zealand

The New Zealand government showed renewed commitment to modern slavery today by announcing that NZD 50 million will be allocated over four years to address migrant exploitation.  A special visaRead more

Modern slavery in supply chains and COVID-19

This article was published in the Institute of Directors website on 21 May 2020 COVID-19 has demonstrated that strong and robust supply chains are important, especially in times of economic uncertaiRead more

Slavery conviction - New Zealand

In the middle of Covid-19 madness, a really important slavery and human trafficking conviction took place. It's important we take note of it, because there are far more prosecutions initiated thanRead more

POSTPONED - Accountability in NZ supply chains

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, this event is postponed.  We will be in touch regarding a future date as soon as possible.Read more

Accountability for Modern Slavery in New Zealand Supply Chains

Business and Human Rights Consultants is pleased to be sponsoring this event. If you are a NZ company that is unsure whether you need to report to the Australian Modern Slavery Act or want to knowRead more