There are claims Around 1.35 billion dollars a year is laundered through corporate entities in New Zealand from fraud and drugs

The Government has released a discussion paper today in an attempt to get feedback on measures to stop the misuse of companies as a disguise for criminal activity.

Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi says while this country isn't a major centre for financial crime it's not immune.

They'd also like feedback on who's being appointed as company directors and whether they're appropriate as some of them would be banned in other jurisdictions.

Faafoi says we need to know who owns or effectively controls corporate entities.

Submissions on the paper will close early in August.