How the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 law affects our clients

Why we need to ask you for information

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.

Recent changes to the AML/CFT Act mean that from 1 July 2018 lawyers must comply with its requirements. Lawyers must do a number of things to help combat money laundering and terrorist financing, and to help Police bring criminals to justice. The AML/CFT law does this 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 they may face from the actions of money launderers and people who finance terrorism and must 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”.

Customer due diligence requirements

Customer due diligence requires a law firm to undertake certain background checks before providing services to clients or customers. 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.

To confirm details including your name, date of birth and address, the following certified documents (or similar) will be required:

• Identity documents such as New Zealand passport or driver’s licence and birth certificate, and
• Address documents such as a bank or rates statement dated within the last three months.

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 the source of funds for a transaction may also be necessary to meet the legal requirements.

If you cannot provide the required information

If you are not able to provide the required information, it is likely we will not be able to act for you.  As the law applies to everyone, we need to ask for the information even if you are a longstanding client of ours.

Prior to commencing work, we will confirm the documents and information required.

If you would like further information please contact Laura Monahan on 07 958 7479.