A public information campaign to raise awareness about the problem of money laundering by domestic and foreign criminals is now underway.

Justice Minister Andrew Little says the Keep Our Money Clean campaign is using print and digital advertising. It will run in four phases as new business sectors come under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.

“Money launderers undermine our country’s financial and justice systems, and leave us vulnerable to trans-national crime. If the world loses confidence in us, our ability to protect our financial channels, our hard-won international financial and trade reputation will be at risk," Mr Little says.

“The Government has prepared ‘Keep our Money Clean’ information packs for law practices, accounting business agents and real estate agents so that customers can understand the anti-money laundering requirements those businesses are required to uphold."

The AML/CFT requirements have applied to the legal profession since 1 July 2018. They will be extended to accountants from 1 October 2018, real estate agents from 1 January 2019, and high value goods dealers and the New Zealand Racing Board from 1 August 2019.