New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has initiated a legislative review to assess the effectiveness of the 2022 Russia Sanctions Act. Two years after its implementation, the government is examining how well these measures support international pressure on Moscow and what can be improved for more impactful outcomes.
This information comes from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As part of this review, MFAT has released a consultation document inviting stakeholders to provide input on 70 key questions to identify which aspects of the law are effective and which need modification. This document seeks feedback from experts including legal professionals, public affairs consultants, and business representatives in finance, energy, defense, and other sectors impacted by the sanctions.
The discussion on sanctions legislation holds particular importance for New Zealand, as the country introduced autonomous sanctions only in 2022—in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Sanctions Act grants the Foreign Minister authority to impose restrictions on New Zealand companies’ economic and business relations with sanctioned Russian entities, assets, and services. Measures include asset freezes, export and import restrictions, transport bans, and other actions to prevent support for Moscow’s unlawful actions.
Public and expert consultations, launched with MFAT’s document, will be open until December 16. The review may also explore expanding the autonomous sanctions regime to allow New Zealand to impose sanctions related to human rights and international security issues.
