The Préscha Initiative was founded in 2010 by a group of friends at University who were compelled to take a stand against human trafficking. "Préscha" means "act urgently, with great haste, to advocate for the broken-hearted" in four different languages.

AWARENESS

After running numerous awareness raising events, it became clear that New Zealanders did not know or understand what human trafficking was. International reports at the time outlined that education and awareness of human trafficking needed to be prioritised in New Zealand. The Department of State Trafficking in Persons report cited that New Zealand teenagers were susceptible to human trafficking and it became clear that high school students should be taught about human trafficking at school-age.

EDUCATION

In mid-2012, the Préscha Initiative launched an education resource on human trafficking for high school students which was trialled in schools in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato. In 2015, this was modified in collaboration with Instant Education Solutions to be NCEA accredited. NCEA Achievement Standard 91040 is now taught in approximately 80 schools across New Zealand. The resource provides comprehensive and easy to use instructions for teachers on this important subject and assists students in their understanding of human rights and human trafficking. Download the resource here. 

ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH

The Préscha Initiative is Chair of the Human Trafficking Research Coalition (HTRC). Together, with other NGO’s, the Préscha Initiative led the first research into worker exploitation in New Zealand conducted by Dr Christina Stringer in 2016:  "Worker Exploitation in New Zealand : A Troubling Landscape". The research confirmed worker exploitation and slave-like practices were taking places in many of New Zealand's industries, including horticulture, farming, international students and hospitality. The report contained 11 recommendations to the New Zealand Government urging them to act on the findings of the report and initiate a coordinated national response to human trafficking in New Zealand. A follow-up report. “Temporary Migrant Worker Exploitation” by Dr Christina Stringer and Francis Collins was published in October 2019.

As one of New Zealand’s long-standing anti-human trafficking organisations, The Préscha Initiative has had a key role advocating for policy changes in human trafficking law and practice. The Préscha Initiative is a member of the Modern Slavery and Labour Exploitation Advisory Group providing feedback to the government on human trafficking policy including New Zealand’s refresh of the Trafficking in Persons Plan of Action. In 2019, as Chair of the HTRC, The Préscha Initiative led a submission addressing temporary worker exploitation in New Zealand.