AML/CFT Compliance

New Zealand has passed a law called the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (“the AML/CFT law” for short). The purpose of the law reflects New Zealand’s commitment to the international initiative to counter the impact that criminal activity has on people and economies within the global community.  Lawyers must comply with requirements of the legislation because the services law firms and other professionals offer may be attractive to those involved in criminal activity.

The law says that law firms and other professionals must assess the risk that the community may face from the actions of money launderers and people who finance terrorism and identify potentially suspicious activity.

To make that assessment, lawyers must obtain and verify information from prospective and existing clients about a range of things. This is part of what the AML/CFT law calls “customer due diligence” (“CDD”). CDD requires a law firm to undertake certain background checks before providing services to clients. Lawyers must take reasonable steps to make sure the information they receive from clients is correct, and so they need to ask for documents that show this.

We will need to obtain and verify certain information from you to meet these legal requirements. This information includes:

• your full name; and
• your date of birth; and
• your address.

To confirm these details, documents such as your passport, driver’s licence and/or your birth certificate, and documents that show your address, such as a current bank statement, will be required. You can find out what documents are required on our Verification page.

If you are seeing us about company or trust business, we will need information about the company or trust including the people associated with it (such as directors and shareholders, trustees and beneficiaries). We may also need to ask you for further information. We will need to ask you about the nature and purpose of the proposed work you are asking us to do for you. Information confirming your source of wealth and source of funds for a transaction may also be necessary to meet the legal requirements.

Before we start working for you, we will let you know what documents and other information we need.

Please contact the legal practitioner who will be undertaking your work if you have any queries.
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