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Sanctions and export controls are national legal regimes that restrict trade, finance, and related activities with certain countries, organisations, and individuals for reasons of national security, foreign policy, or international obligations. If you live or work in Feilding you are still subject to New Zealand law on sanctions and export controls. These laws apply to exporters, importers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, banks, insurers, and anyone who arranges or facilitates international movement of goods, technology, software, services, or funds.
In practice this means that even routine rural exports, agricultural services, or secondhand machinery sales can require screening and licence checks if the goods, end use, or trading partner are subject to controls. Compliance combines legal interpretation, practical due diligence, and engagement with national agencies that administer and enforce the rules.
Sanctions and export controls intersect complex international, regulatory, and criminal rules. You may need a lawyer in Feilding if any of the following apply to you or your business:
- You export goods or technology that could be dual-use or have military applications, such as specialised machinery, electronics, or software.
- You buy from or sell to parties in countries subject to sanctions or heightened export controls.
- Your business handles international payments, correspondent banking, or suspicious transactions that might involve designated persons or blocked assets.
- You have been contacted by customs, law enforcement, or a regulatory agency about a shipment or transaction.
- You are unsure whether a licence is required for an export or re-export, or how to apply for one.
- You need help setting up a sanctions compliance program, screening processes, or employee training.
- You want legal advice before completing a cross-border sale, broker arrangement, or technical assistance agreement.
- You face potential enforcement action, seizure of goods, penalties, or criminal investigation related to trade controls or sanctions breaches.
While Feilding is a local community, sanctions and export control law is made and enforced at the national level. Key features to be aware of include:
- Regulatory framework - New Zealand implements sanctions and export controls through statutes, regulations, and orders. These measures can reflect United Nations requirements, regional arrangements, or autonomous national sanctions.
- Licensing and lists - Some exports require licences. There are lists of controlled goods, and lists of designated persons or entities subject to financial or trade restrictions. Whether an item needs a licence depends on its technical details, end use, and destination.
- Customs and export formalities - Export declarations and customs processes must accurately describe goods and comply with export controls. New Zealand Customs Service administers export and border formalities and works with other agencies on enforcement.
- Enforcement and penalties - Breaches can attract civil penalties, criminal sanctions, seizure of goods, and enforcement action by national agencies. Even inadvertent breaches can be serious, but agencies may consider voluntary disclosure and remediation.
- Sectoral overlap - Different agencies may be involved depending on the issue - foreign policy and sanctions policy is typically led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, export licensing and strategic goods issues can involve specialist government units, and financial sector matters may engage banking regulators and law enforcement.
- Due diligence expectations - Businesses are expected to carry out reasonable customer and counterparty due diligence, know-your-customer checks, screening against sanctions lists, and record-keeping to demonstrate compliance.
Sanctions are restrictions imposed on countries, entities, or individuals to achieve a foreign policy or security objective - for example blocking trade or freezing assets. Export controls are rules that restrict the export of certain goods, technology, software, or services because of national security, proliferation, or human-rights concerns. The two regimes overlap but have different legal bases and objectives.
Yes. New Zealand export control and sanctions law applies to exports originating in New Zealand, regardless of where you are located within the country. You must ensure licences, declarations, and screenings comply with national rules before goods leave New Zealand.
Whether an item is controlled depends on its technical specifications, intended end use, and destination. Items classed as dual-use or relating to defence are commonly controlled. Businesses should consult the relevant national guidance on controlled goods and, if uncertain, seek legal advice or contact the appropriate government licensing authority for a ruling.
Several national agencies can be involved. Policy and sanctions lists are typically administered at central government level, and enforcement can involve customs, regulatory agencies, and law enforcement. The precise agencies vary by case and sector. If you face an investigation you should consult a lawyer promptly.
Basic steps include screening parties against sanctions and denied-party lists, verifying company ownership and beneficial owners, documenting the transaction purpose and end use, and keeping records of screening results. Many businesses use screening software and integrate checks into onboarding and export processes.
If you suspect you have breached requirements, document what happened, preserve records, and seek legal advice. There may be an obligation or an advantage in making a voluntary disclosure to the relevant authority. How the agency responds depends on factors such as intent, promptness of disclosure, and steps taken to remediate.
Yes. Banks and other financial institutions have legal obligations to block transactions or freeze funds if those transactions involve designated persons or entities. If your business receives a freeze notice you should obtain legal advice immediately to understand your obligations and options.
Yes. Export controls can cover intangible transfers such as technical assistance, software, blueprints, training, and digital transfers of controlled technology. Providing such services to restricted destinations or parties may require a licence.
Costs vary by firm, complexity, and the task required. Simple compliance checks or written advice may be charged at a fixed fee or hourly rate, while complex investigations, licensing processes, or litigation involve higher fees. Ask for an estimate, fee structure, and whether the lawyer offers a first consultation at a lower rate.
A lawyer can review your business activities, identify risk areas, draft policies and procedures, design screening and record-keeping processes, train staff, prepare licence applications, and advise on incident response including voluntary disclosure. Legal advice helps tailor a program to your size, sector, and risk profile.
For someone in Feilding seeking further information or assistance, the following national bodies and organisations are commonly relevant for sanctions and export control matters:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade - policy, sanctions lists, and guidance.
- New Zealand Customs Service - export declarations, border controls, and enforcement activities.
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment or relevant export-control licensing unit - guidance on controlled goods and licensing requirements.
- Reserve Bank of New Zealand and financial sector regulators - guidance for banks and financial institutions on sanctions screening and reporting obligations.
- New Zealand Law Society - resource for finding qualified lawyers and understanding legal practice standards.
- Local business organisations such as the Manawatu Chamber of Commerce or industry associations - practical support and local networks for exporters.
- Industry-specific bodies - for agriculture, machinery, or logistics there may be sector associations that provide practical export compliance guidance.
If you think you need legal assistance with sanctions or export controls, here is a practical sequence to follow:
- Identify the issue - gather transaction documents, invoices, contracts, export declarations, communications, and any screening results.
- Do not destroy records - preserve relevant emails, customs documents, and shipping paperwork.
- Conduct preliminary screening - check counterparties or destinations against sanctions lists as an initial step, and note the results.
- Contact a lawyer with experience in international trade, sanctions, customs, or financial compliance. Ask about their experience with similar matters and request a clear fee estimate.
- Consider whether you should make a voluntary disclosure - a lawyer can advise whether disclosure to authorities is required or advisable and can help prepare the disclosure.
- Implement immediate risk controls - if a shipment is at risk of non-compliance, a lawyer can advise on steps to halt shipments, secure goods, or suspend transactions while the matter is resolved.
- Plan for long-term compliance - work with counsel to adopt screening tools, write internal policies, train staff, and set up record-keeping and escalation procedures.
Dealing promptly and carefully with sanctions or export control concerns reduces legal, financial, and reputational risk. Even in a regional centre like Feilding, national laws apply and specialist legal advice can be critical to protecting your business.
