22 July 2026
Ref: DOIA-REQ-0035742
G Smith
Email: [FYI request #35014 email] 
Tēnā koe G Smith
Thank you for your email of 2 July 2026 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) 
requesting information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Please note for clarity I have 
responded to each question in turn.
Please provide, for the years 2022-2026, the following:
1) Number of migrant exploitation complaints
Labour Inspectorate: Migrant 
Exploitation Complaints Received
Year
Count
2026 to June 30
1,043 
2025
2,208 
2024
3,521 
2023
2,562 
2022
749
2) Number of migrant exploitation investigations opened
Labour Inspectorate: Migrant Exploitation 
Completed and Ceased* Investigations
Year
Count
2026 to June 30
82 
2025
180 
2024
308 
2023
181 
2022
208
Please note that investigations can be ceased due to a complainant withdrawing, or an organisation 
closing.

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3) Number of migrant exploitation prosecutions
Labour Inspectorate: Migrant Exploitation Enforcements by Issued Date
Year
2022
2023
2024
2025 2026 to June 30
Application to Higher Courts
2
Application to the Authority
9
9
32
28
15
Application to the Employment Court
2
5
8
Enforceable Undertaking
23
24
50
19
Improvement Notice
15
22
29
23
3
Infringement Notice
4
7
17
11
4
Letter Of Expectation
1
5
Self-resolution
11
39
48
23
6
Total
62
105
181
113
33
4) The nationality of the victim/s and the nationality of the offender/s for each of the above
5) any reports or analysis available to INZ in regards to migrants exploiting other migrants of the 
same ethnic and/cultural background
MBIE does not collect the above information, and therefore refuse this portion of your request under 
section 18(g) of the Act, that the information requested is not held by the department or venture or 
Minister of the Crown or organisation and the person dealing with the request has no grounds for 
believing that the information is either—
(i)
held by another department (for itself and for a departmental agency hosted by it or an 
interdepartmental executive board serviced by it) or interdepartmental venture or Minister of the 
Crown or organisation, or by a local authority; or
(ii)
connected more closely with the functions of another department (for itself and for a 
departmental agency hosted by it or an interdepartmental executive board serviced by it) or 
interdepartmental venture or Minister of the Crown or organisation or of a local authority.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance, 
please contact [email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information 
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 
602.
Nāku noa, nā
Daniel de Villiers
Director Regulatory and Advisory Services
Employment Services

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