Human Rights Commission

As a party to the International Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,New Zealandis required to report every five years to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on its compliance with the convention.  The Human Rights Commission, as a recognised National Human Rights Institution, monitors the Government’s reporting and its implementation of the Committee’s recommendations. 

The New Zealand government submitted a report in December 2006, and government representatives attended the Committee to discuss the report in August 2007. The Human Rights Commission was invited by the Committee to participate as an independent commentator, and was represented by the Race Relations Commissioner. The Committee also received reports from a number of civil society organisations, some of whom attended the Committee as observers. 

The Committee issued its conclusions and recommendations two weeks later, and asked the government to report back on four matters of concern in 12 months time.  These related to the Treaty in the school curriculum, the Treaty in legislation, the Foreshore and Seabed Act, and access to education for undocumented children.

The Government responded to these questions in September 2008.  The Human Rights Commission also reported to the Committee on the implementation status of all the Committee’s recommendations.

New Zealand’s latest five yearly report to the Committee was submitted in February 2012 :

New Zealand Government’s 2012 report to CERD Committee

For further information:

Website of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 

CERD Committee’s response to the NZ Government’s follow-up report (PDF)

New Zealand government presentation to the Committee, 2007

Race Relations Commissioner’s presentation to the Committee, 2007

Concluding observations of the Committee on New Zealand, 2007

The NZ Human Rights Commission and CERD Committee, paper by the Race Relations Commissioner, 2007 (Word 60Kb)

New Zealand government’s follow-up report, September 2008

Human Rights Commission’s follow-up report, September 2008

Implementation Monitoring Table (as at 30 September 2008)

CERD Committee Response to New Zealand Government 12 Month Followup (March 2009)

Revised Implementation Monitoring Table (Word 460Kb) (as at 17 August 2009)

Letter to Minister of Justice concerning CERD implementation (Word 55Kb) (23 October 2009)

Letter to CERD Committee – updating progress on recommendations (Word 150Kb) (23 October 2009)

Letter to Minister of Justice concerning CERD implementation (153Kb) (01 October 2010)

CERD Monitoring Implementation Table (450Kb) (01 October 2010)