A man found guilty on dozens of trafficking and exploitation charges has been sentenced to nine years and six months in jail.
Faroz Ali, 46, operated illegal working schemes for migrants coming from Fiji to New Zealand. It's the first time such charges have been brought before the court in this country.
Workers were promised working visas and $17 an hour for fruit-picking and construction work.
Instead they worked on visitor visas, and in some cases earned less than half what they were promised.
Men and women were forced to sleep in the same room on mattresses on the floor, often without blankets.
Justice Heath said the crime should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
Ali was also ordered to pay $28,000 to help recoup the losses made by his victims.
Newshub.
