Recent News
- Parents as caregivers’ case – background information
- Court of Appeal decision in favour of parents in long running case
- Statement on child excluded from daycare centre
- Media report based on draft likely to be inaccurate
- Consideration of NZ’s third periodic report on the implementation of the ICESCR
- MORE NEWS
- The impact of international human rights treaties on New Zealand law, policy and practice
- Mandatory group detention plans run counter to UN convention
- Commission announces formal public inquiry into New Zealand Sign Language
- OPCAT annual report released
- Submission on Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill
- Shalom, Aroha, Peace
- Chief Commissioner applauds package to address the wellbeing of young New Zealanders
- Crown entities monitoring report reveals low numbers of Māori employees
- Race relations law marks 40th anniversary
- Race Relations Commissioners and Conciliators mark significant anniversary
- Recommendations to honour international treaty obligations
- CFNHRI Statement on Malawi
- Celebrating Race Relations Day
- IHC complaint
- Concern after disabled boy is left on school bus
- ALL NEWS
Sir Paul Reeves a human rights champion
Nation loses great advocate for human rights and the Treaty
He kotuku rerenga tahi
A white heron flies once
New Zealand has lost a great advocate for human rights and the Treaty with the passing of Sir Paul Reeves, the first Maori Governor-General and former Archbishop of the Anglican Church today.
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan said, “The Commission offers its deepest sympathy and condolences to Lady Reeves and the whanau of Sir Paul. The nation will share their sadness at the loss of a great man whose graciousness and intelligence was only matched by the generosity of his spirit.”
Ms Noonan said that Sir Paul had agreed to lead work by the Commission throughout New Zealand on human rights and the Treaty of Waitangi. “He brought his great mana as well as a wonderful warm sense of humour and the ability to connect and understand the lives of people from all walks of life.”
She said Sir Paul showed a great commitment to human rights. “He represented the very best of what it is to be a New Zealander.”
As well as being Governor General from 1985-1990, Sir Paul Reeves had been chairman of the Nelson Mandela Trust and chairman of the Fiji Constitution Review Commission. Most recently he was chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology.