Image from the film 'Of Labour and Love'
Debt Bondage and Modern Slavery – A Film Screening and Panel Discussion’ will take place on Thursday 20 November from 5.30 to 7.30pm at the Auckland campus. The evening begins with networking over light refreshments, followed by a screening of the short film Of Labour and Love and a panel discussion.
Produced by Massey researcher Omer Nazir, Of Labour and Love offers a deeply human portrait of two labourers trapped in Indian brick kilns; their lives bound by debt to employers and local lenders. The film exposes the disciplinary power of debt and the devastating human toll of exploitative labour systems.
Event organiser and Sustainable Futures Hub Director Professor Nitha Palakshappa says the event is an important opportunity for collective reflection.
“Modern slavery is not a distant issue. It’s deeply intertwined with the global systems that produce the goods and services we use every day. Through this film and discussion, we want to shed light on these hidden connections and explore how we can reimagine business and policy toward more ethical and just outcomes.”
Following the screening, a panel of experts will respond to the film examining how modern slavery continues to shape lives across global contexts. Speakers include Professor Janet Sayers and Professor Nitha Palakshappa from the Massey Business School and Georgie Craw, Communications Lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa.
The event is free and open to the public.