Sanctions were imposed concerning Haiti by United Nations Security Council resolution 2653(external link).
United Nations Sanctions (Haiti) Regulations 2026
New Zealand’s sanctions regulations came into force on 7 May 2026. These regulations apply to all persons inside New Zealand and to New Zealand citizens outside New Zealand.
A person breaching the sanctions regulations could be liable for up to 12 months imprisonment or a fine of up to $10,000. A company breaching the sanctions regulations could be liable for a fine of up to $100,000.
Some of the key restrictions in the sanctions regulations are outlined below. The following list is a summary only and is not comprehensive. We recommend that you look at the detailed regulations and obtain independent legal advice when making decisions about dealings with persons from Haiti.
Arms embargo
The regulations prohibit the direct and indirect export of arms from New Zealand to Haiti (with some exceptions). The regulations also prohibit loading or carrying such arms onto a ship or aircraft, and other transactions or dealing with arms that are intended for Haiti (see regulations 4 – 10).
Asset Freeze
The regulations prohibit transferring, selling, or otherwise dealing with any property (including land, shares, or money) that is owned or controlled by a person designated by the UN's Haiti sanctions committee(external link), or their agent (see regulations 11-12). Some exceptions apply (see regulation 13).
Travel ban
The regulations prohibit people designated by the UN(external link) from entering or transiting through New Zealand (see regulation 14).