New Zealanders who want to kill for profit in overseas wars could be jailed for 14 years under Government plans to ban mercenaries.

Justice Minister Phil Goff said the new law would apply to anyone who funded or recruited mercenaries, and any New Zealanders who tried to work as a mercenary.

"It's effectively paid murder," Mr Goff said last night.

The Mercenary Activities (Prohibition) Bill defines mercenaries as people hired to fight in armed conflicts or concerted acts of violence for significant private gain.

It does not apply to the Armed Forces here, or anyone who joins another country's defence force, but it would apply to any New Zealander working overseas as a paid mercenary.

A foreigner who came to New Zealand, and was known to have worked, trained, funded or recruited mercenaries, could also be prosecuted.

Mr Goff said New Zealand was not awash with mercenaries, but there had been speculation recruiters had been here before.

He said the legislation was not aimed at those people working perhaps as highly paid security guards in a country such as war-torn Iraq, but it would target those who chose to "fight and kill for profit" in wars or events such as coups.

The bill will allow New Zealand to implement the provisions of an international convention against mercenaries, which may soon be strengthened to also include provisions on mercenaries involved in gun running.

Mr Goff said the law here would also be strengthened if the convention was altered.