New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
25 October 2022
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
Mohammed Khan
New Zealand
[FYI request #20601 email]
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 28302
Tēnā koe Mohammed Khan
I refer to your email of 18 September 2022 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
Recent media reports indicate that employees of this CSIS organization who likely
were involved in the chain of command overseeing the sex trafficking operation are
meeting in Queenstown, as a part of the broader 'Five Eyes' group.
1) Was MFAT involved in the organization of this visit by members of CSIS, an
acknowledged child sex trafficking organization, to New Zealand? If so, please
disclose all documents related to this.
2) What is MFAT's policy on child sex trafficking?
3) What is MFAT's policy on ISIS, the organization that CSIS were supporting by
supplying their members with child sex slaves?
On 17 October 2022, due to further consultation being required before a response could be
provided, the timeframe for responding to your request was extended by 5 working days, to
25 October 2022. Thank you for your patience while this process was concluded.
I have answered your questions in turn below.
1) Was MFAT involved in the organization of this visit by members of CSIS, an
acknowledged child sex trafficking organization, to New Zealand? If so, please
disclose all documents related to this.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community was responsible for the hosting of this conference.
Any details or documents regarding the organisation of the conference are withheld under
section 6(a) of the OIA, as release of the information would be prejudicial to the security or
defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the New Zealand government.
2) What is MFAT's policy on child sex trafficking?
The New Zealand Government has ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights
of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; the Protocol to
Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,
supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the
Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention.
Since then, New Zealand released the all-of-government Plan of Action against Forced Labour,
People Trafficking, and Slavery in 2021. The Plan lists the actions the government has
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
committed to take to combat modern slavery, including people trafficking, both in New Zealand,
or overseas.
If you would like further information about this Plan of Action, you may wish to visit the Ministry
of Business, Innovation & Employment’s website, at: www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-
employment/employment-and-skills/plan-of-action-against-forced-labour-people-trafficking-
and-slavery/.
3) What is MFAT's policy on ISIS, the organization that CSIS were supporting by
supplying their members with child sex slaves?
The Terrorism Suppression Act 2002 (TSA) provides for a list of terrorist entities to be
established and maintained in New Zealand, including those entities associated with UN Security
Council Resolutions 1267/1989/2253 and 1988. ISIS is designated as a terrorist entity under
the Act. Such a designation freezes the assets of terrorist entities and makes it a criminal
offence to participate in or support the activities of the designated entity.
Since its establishment in 2014, New Zealand has supported the Global Coalition to Defeat
ISIS (D-ISIS) through a number of New Zealand Defence Force military deployments, and
funding from the New Zealand Aid Programme. This funding has included a focus on
stabilisation efforts, removal of explosive remnants of war and reintegration of Internally
Displaced Persons in Iraq. New Zealand has also supported efforts to counter online ISIS
communications and propaganda, through the Coalition’s Communications Working Group.
On 25 August 2022, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence announced the next phase in
New Zealand’s contribution to the D-ISIS Coalition. More information on this can be found
here: Next phase in Aotearoa NZ contribution to Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS |
Beehive.govt.nz.
Please note that we may publish this letter (with your personal details redacted) on the
Ministry’s website.
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Corbett
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
