Race Relations
Human Rights Commission
The primary functions of the Human Rights Commission are to advocate and promote respect for, and an understanding and appreciation of, human rights in NZ society, to encourage the maintenance and development of harmonious relations between individuals and among the diverse groups in NZ society, to promote equal employment opportunities and to provide a disputes resolutions service in relation to complaints of discrimination. The Commission’s work on race relations is led by the The Race Relations Commissioner.
Visit the Human Rights Commission website.
Projects 2012
New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights
The Commission completed its second review of Human Rights in New Zealand in December 2010. The review will be used as a basis for the second New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights, and will include priorities identified in the review on the Treaty and Human Rights, race relations, refugees, migrants and religion. The Commission expects to engage with Government and civil society on the final form of the action plan during 2012.
United Nations Review of NZ’s Race Relations Performance
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is due to conduct its five yearly review of New Zealand’s race relations performance in 2012. The Government is required to submit its report to the Committee by February 2012, and the Commission will be engaging with the CERD Committee on the review, including providing independent information based on the Commission’s Race Relations Reports and the Review of Human Rights in New Zealand. The Commission will also encourage and assist civil society organisations to report directly to the Committee on their assessment of New Zealand’s performance and issues they consider need to be addressed.
The Commission will seek to advance key Race relations priorities through policy development and advocacy. Issues identified for 2011 include the representation of Maori, Pacific and other ethnic minority communities in local government, discrimination against Asian New Zealanders, safety of international students, and structural discrimination.
Policy and Advocacy
The Commission will seek to advance key Race relations priorities through policy development and advocay. Priorities for 2012 will be identified in the annual Race Relations Report.
Facilitation of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme
The Commission facilitates the NZ Diversity Action Programme. The Commission aims to maintain the number of annual participating organisations at 250 in 2012 through renewal or replacement of 2011 participants. The number of projects contributed by participants is expected to exceed 600.
New Zealand Diversity Action Programme Networks
The Commission will produce monthly electronic newsletters for the religious diversity, national language policy, refugee issues and media and diversity networks. You can view and subscribe to these newsletters online. Forums for each of the networks will be held as part of the annual New Zealand Diversity Forum in August.
New Zealand Diversity Forum
The eighth NZ Diversity Forum will be held in Auckland on 19-20 August 2012. It will be organised in conjunction with a range of other NZ Diversity Action Programme partners, and will include a national youth forum. There will be community forums and events on the weekend, and professional group and specific topic forums on Monday, 20 August. A reception and the national diversity awards will also be held on the Monday.
Race Relations Day
Race Relations Day marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It is marked internationally on March 21, which falls on a Wednesday in 2012. The Commission coordinates and supports activities undertaken on the day and in the weeks leading up to it by communities, local government, multicultural councils, schools and other education institutions, businesses and workplaces. Many community events will take place on the weekends of 17-18 March and 24-25 March, with school activities taking place from 19-23 March. The 2012 theme is “A Fair Go for All”.
Te Mana i Waitangi: Human Rights and the Treaty of Waitangi
One of the functions of the Commission under the Human Rights Act is to promote understanding of the human rights dimensions of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Commission’s Te Mana i Waitangi project seeks to do this by promoting discussion on human rights and the Treaty, promoting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and working with Māori communities to build human rights capacity and leadership (Tuhonohono). In 2012 the Tuhonohono projects will involve the Commission working with four specific groups in Taitokerau, Wairarapa, Te Waipounamu and the Central North Island, while maintaining support for three Tuhonohono groups from 2011 in Wairoa, Opotiki, and Taranaki. The Commission will publish a review of Treaty developments in the past year in time for Waitangi Day 2011. It also expects to make a contribution to the Government appointed constitutional review group. Following the publication in 2010 of its report on Māori Representation in Local Government: the Continuing Challenge and communication with all councils on the matter in 2011, the Commission will continue to advocate for increased Māori representation in local government. The Commission publishes a monthly electronic newsletter on human rights and the Treaty, Whitiwhiti Kōrero.
Māori Language Week
Māori Language Week will be held from 23-27 July 2012. The promotion of community activities for Māori Language Week is a joint project between the Māori Language Commission, the Human Rights Commission and Te Puni Kokiri.
Samoan Language Week
Samoan Language Week will be held from 27 May to 2 June 2012. The promotion of community activities for Samoan Language Week is a joint project between the Association of Samoan Language Teachers (FAGASA), the Human Rights Commission, and other partner organisations.
Annual Review of Race Relations
The Commission will publish its annual review of race relations in March 2012. The review will include an overview of race relations as well as specific reviews in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi, action on diversity, migrants and refugees, language, media, religious diversity, arts culture and heritage, civil and political rights, discrimination, economic and social rights and diversity research. It will also identify challenges for the future. Past issues are available online.
Acknowledging Positive Contributions to Race Relations
Every month the Commission awards certificates of acknowledgement to individuals and groups who have made a positive contribution to race relations. The awards are published in a monthly e-newsletter, On the Bright Side, which is sent out to a wide audience. You can subscribe to the newsletter online or by emailing to positive.contribution@hrc.co.nz . The Commission also presents annual awards for outstanding contributions to race relations at the annual Diversity Forum in August.
Guidelines on Religious Diversity
The Commission is working with the Victoria University Religious Studies Programme to develop guidelines for employers and workers on issues relating to religious diversity in the workplace. The project arose from the annual religious diversity forum at the 2009 Diversity Forum. The guidelines will be published in 2012. Following the religious diversity forum at the 2010 Diversity Forum, the Commission is also working with the Victoria University Religious Studies Programme on a statement on religion and the media.
Statement on Race Relations
The Commission will promote further discussion and use of the Statement on Race Relations, which was launched at the New Zealand Diversity Forum in August 2008.
Statement on Religious Diversity
The Commission will promote further discussion and use of the Statement on Religious Diversity, which was relaunched with some minor changes and a new introduction by Prime Minister John Key at the New Zealand Diversity Forum in August 2009.
Statement on Language Policy
The Commission will facilitate further discussion on the Statement on Language Policy launched in 2007. The policy calls for the development of a range of strategies for particular aspects of language policy, and the Commission will be encouraging appropriate lead organisations to develop such strategies. A particular focus in 2012 will be on encouraging the development of strategies for Pacific languages and interpreting and translation services.