Human Rights Commission

The Canterbury earthquakes represent New Zealand’s greatest contemporary human rights challenge.

The Commission has a unique and necessary role to play in the Canterbury recovery. It has the mandate and expertise to help the people of Canterbury find practical ways to sort problems that have a foundation in human rights.

Human rights matter to New Zealanders. Cantabrians and New Zealanders from all walks of life have responded to the Canterbury earthquakes in a way that has reinforced the respect for values that run deep in New Zealand.

The Commission is working to ensure fairness and inclusion is embedded in the rebuild and recovery process.

The Commission has a specific role to monitor human rights issues and will benchmark this work against international best practice.

People with human rights enquiries and complaints are welcome to discuss their issues with the Commission’s Enquiries and Complaints team.

The Commission will also continue its commitment to working with the people of Canterbury, Government and its agencies including CERA, tangata whenua, local authorities, non-government agencies and business to ensure that:

• the voices of vulnerable and affected people are heard and their dignity respected
• the recovery goal to make Christchurch the world’s most accessible city is achieved
• rights, such as the right to health are realised and not compromised by uncertainty or unneeded delay in getting a safe and warm home and a connection to the community.