Office of Human Rights Proceedings

The Office of Human Rights Proceedings was established on 1 January 2002 by the Human Rights Amendment Act 2001. It is an independent part of the Human Rights Commission and is headed by the Director of Human Rights Proceedings – Robert Hesketh.

The OHRP staff are:

  • Robert Hesketh – Director of Human Rights Proceedings (Auckland)
  • Rosanne Robertson – Administrator (Wellington)
  • David Peirse – Solicitor (Auckland)
  • Jenny Ryan – Solicitor (Wellington)
  • Pam Rowe – Registered Legal Executive/EA to the Director (Auckland)
What do we do?

The Office of Human Rights Proceedings provides legal representation for people who have complained of breaches of the Human Rights Act so that they can take their case to the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

People with complaints should first try to resolve the complaint through the mediation service provided by the Human Rights Commission. If you apply to the Director for legal representation to start legal proceedings without first having tried to mediate the complaint, your application is likely to be rejected. Where you have tried to mediate, but this has not been successful, you can ask the Director to provide legal representation to assist you to take the case to the Tribunal.

The Director has limited resources to provide legal representation and cannot provide this to all those who apply to him. Each case is assessed on its merits. If the Director decides to take a case the service is free. If he decides not to provide legal representation, the complainant has the right to take their own case to the Tribunal at their own expense.

For further information download  Office of Human Rights Proceedings fact sheet and form (125Kb PDF) .

Tribunal and Court decisions

Click here for significant Human Rights Review Tribunal and Court decisions.

If you wish to contact us you can email ohrp@ohrp.org.nz or write to us at:

The Office of Human Rights Proceedings
PO Box 6751
Wellesley Street
AUCKLAND 1141

 

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