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Kia manaaki i te manene: Respecting and protecting migrant workers
A Citizens Advice Bureau spotlight report about migrant worker exploitation in Aotearoa New Zealand, July 2026.
MIGRANT EXPLOITATION
About this report
Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand draws on enquiries from bureaux across the motu to show how migrant workers are experiencing exploitation. The report takes its name from the exhortation of the nineteenth century rangatira Moihi Te Matorohanga: kia manaaki i te tangata rahi, i te tangata iti. Care for all people, both great and small.
What the report found
CAB enquiries show migrants experiencing exploitation across job roles, industries and locations, and consistent problems dealing with Immigration New Zealand. Six case studies drawn from bureau enquiries describe people’s experiences across trades, healthcare, transport, beauty services, retail and industrial services.
The report finds that exploited migrants often require high levels of support, and it closes with actionable insights for societal and systemic change.
6case studies drawn from CAB enquiries
July 2026spotlight report published
Nationwideenquiries from bureaux across the motu
”It reveals how well we are caring for the migrant who has been welcomed to our kāinga, and where we are falling short.”
Why it matters for Aotearoa
Migrant workers are among those most at risk of exploitation in Aotearoa.
The report adds nationwide, enquiry-based evidence to what the sector sees in practice, and strengthens the case for systemic change in how migrant workers are protected.
Sources & further reading
- Citizens Advice Bureau Kia manaaki i te manene (PDF)
- Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand
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