weighted score 1.6 · nine dimensions
Country Risk Profile
New Zealand
Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for New Zealand-origin supply chains.
Forced & child labour
1
Zero TVPRA listings. No documented systemic forced or child labour. Full audit access. Lowest possible risk score.
Worker rights & FOA
2
ILO core conventions ratified. Independent trade unions active. Freedom of association protected. Minor seasonal worker programme oversight gaps noted but not systemic.
OHS & audit transparency
2
Full audit access. No restrictions on independent compliance audits. WorkSafe NZ regulatory framework well-established. Forestry sector OHS slightly elevated.
Food & product safety
1
MPI food safety regime world-class. Very low RASFF alert rate. EU equivalence recognition in multiple categories. Dairy traceability from farm to export port.
Environmental & regulatory
2
Strong environmental governance. No EUDR high-risk commodity exposure. No IUU card. Fisheries management among the most transparent globally.
Governance & anti-corruption
1
TI CPI 85/100. Among the least corrupt countries globally. Strong rule of law. Independent judiciary. Transparent regulatory processes.
Tariff & preferential access
2
EU-NZ FTA (2024) provides preferential access. RCEP and CPTPP membership. Broad FTA network reduces tariff friction across major markets.
Non-tariff barriers
1
No enhanced controls on New Zealand-origin goods. No sanctions exposure. Five Eyes alignment. No CBAM-relevant exports at material scale.
Supply chain traceability
2
Excellent traceability in dairy (Fonterra farm-to-port), meat, and wine. Small supply base makes full chain visibility achievable. Minor gaps in seasonal horticulture labour chain.
Labour & Social Risk
Labour & Social Risk
- Forced labour risk
- Zero goods listed on the US TVPRA (ILAB List of Goods Produced by Child or Forced Labor). New Zealand has no documented systemic forced or child labour in any supply chain category.
- Worker rights
- ILO core conventions ratified. Independent trade unions permitted and active. Freedom of association fully protected under the Employment Relations Act 2000.
- Audit transparency
- Full audit access across all sectors. No restrictions on independent social compliance audits. SMETA and BSCI audits considered fully reliable for New Zealand-origin goods.
EU Regulatory Exposure & Trade Access
EU Regulatory Exposure & Trade Access
- EU-NZ FTA
- The EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement entered into force in 2024. Preferential tariff access across most product categories. This is the most significant recent trade development for New Zealand-EU supply chains.
- Food safety
- MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) operates one of the world's most rigorous food safety regulatory frameworks. Very low RASFF alert rate for New Zealand-origin products. EU recognition of MPI equivalence in multiple product categories.
- Anti-corruption
- Transparency International CPI 2024: 85/100 — among the highest globally. Minimal corruption risk in government procurement, regulatory processes, and commercial transactions.
- Five Eyes
- New Zealand is a Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partner. Strong alignment with Western regulatory and sanctions frameworks. No sanctions exposure or entity list risk for standard commercial sourcing.