meta_id 3381752

On August 3, 2026, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) amended the Russia Sanctions Regulations 2022 through the Russia Sanctions Amendment Regulations (No 3) 2026 (SL 2026/222). The amendments expand New Zealand's sanctions regime in response to Russia's military actions in Ukraine and assistance provided to Russia by other countries or persons. The regulations introduce amendments in two phases. Part 1 amendments, effective August 7, 2026, add nine Russian entities and 21 individuals to the sanctions list, including actors contributing to Russia's cyber operations targeting Ukraine, Russia's military-industrial complex, forced relocation of Ukrainian children, and political actors. The regulations also designate individuals from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Iran involved in military support to Russia's invasion. Part 2 amendments, effective September 3, 2026, make substantive changes to the sanctions framework. These include removing automatic sanctions on relatives and associates of designated persons; prohibiting dealings with assets and services intended to circumvent sanctions; restricting dealings with ships listed in Schedule 6; enabling New Zealand banks to charge normal service fees on restricted accounts; and removing export prohibitions on certain medical devices. The amendments strengthen enforcement mechanisms by explicitly prohibiting transactions designed to evade or circumvent sanctions across asset dealings, securities transactions, and service provisions. The regulations were made under section 9 of the Russia Sanctions Act 2022 on the advice and recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. MFAT provided consistency accountability statements and underpinning analysis documentation in accordance with the Regulatory Standards Act 2025, available at https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/europe/ukraine/russian-invasion-of-ukraine/sanctions/publications-and-guidance.