Senior minister Paul Goldsmith has fronted up to the United Nations in Geneva to explain how New Zealand is protecting human rights.
A number of countries, like the UK and US, have called on Aotearoa to do more to get businesses to address modern slavery in their supply chains - but the Prime Minister says it's not a priority.
Goldsmith faced the international community on Monday night NZT to explain New Zealand's approach to human rights issues.
"New Zealand has a long history and commitment to human rights," he said.
He also heard from other countries which called for New Zealand to do more.
"Better protect and promote the rights of indigenous people," said Norway's representative.
"Ireland regrets that the Māori people, including women and young people, continue to be disproportionately affected by incarceration," said Ireland's representative.
Several countries, like the UK, US and Mexico, also wanted New Zealand to do more to address risks of forced labour in businesses' supply chains.
The UK added: "We recommend New Zealand introduce modern slavery legislation that is inclusive of entities of all sizes with international supply chains in both the private and public sectors."
Goldsmith said there are already guidelines for businesses, but legislation is not on the immediate agenda.
"Modern slavery supply chain legislation is not currently being developed and the Government is considering whether it will take further steps," he said.
That's echoed back home.
"It's not a priority for us. We are focused on our quarterly action plan," said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Labour's workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich said it should be given "more urgency".
"I would like to hear more from the minister about her plans."
Brooke van Velden, the minister in charge, said her priority is "to make sure New Zealand businesses have a lower level of complexity".
World Vision said that as the Government wants to grow trade - including with South-East Asia - it needs to take this issue seriously.
"Exporting and importing more products, there needs to be a standard of rules that are accepted around the conditions that the people in our supply chains are working in," said head of advocacy and justice Rebekah Armstrong.
The previous Labour Government got the ball rolling with a plan to require some businesses to outline actions they were taking to address exploitation risks in their supply chains. But information obtained by Newshub shows no legislation was ever drafted to actually put that in practice.
"I think we should have done more and I think it's unfinished business for us," said Labour leader Chris Hipkins.
