Human Rights Commission

Statement on Race Relations presents ten principles which provide a human rights framework for discussion and dialogue on issues raised by New Zealand’s increasing cultural diversity. It was published in August 2008 in the form of a small booklet titled Race Relations in Aotearoa New Zealand: Whanaungatanga ā Iwi: Statement on Race Relations, and launched at the New Zealand Diversity Forum 2008 in Auckland by the Prime Minister and the Race Relations Commissioner.

The aim of the Statement on Race Relations is to foster discussion on key issues in race relations within a human rights framework, to capture key issues and principles around race relations, and to reflect community agreement on these issues. The ten principles in the statement are:

1. Acknowledging the Treaty as the nation’s founding document
2. Freedom from discrimination
3. Freedom of expression, including respecting the rights of others
4. The right to be free from harm
5. The opportunity to be involved in decision-making
6. The right to decent work, education, health services and housing
7. The right of newcomers to enjoy the same rights and opportunities as all New Zealanders
8. The opportunity to learn about our diverse society
9. The right to practise our own cultures and use our own languages
10. The responsibility to respect the rights and freedoms of others and to contribute to harmonious race relations.

“New Zealand’s increasing diversity brings both benefits and challenges,” Mr de Bres says. “It enriches our society, but it also challenges us to counter racism and discrimination and to foster harmonious relationships.”

Positive race relations are so important to the fabric of New Zealand life that the Statement on Race Relations must transcend political differences. He hopes people across the political spectrum will offer support.

“New Zealanders have always been passionate about race relations and our debates can be vigorous, but sometimes we forget how much we agree on. There are some basic human rights that underpin our relationships and these can provide common ground for further debate, and a checklist to see how we’re doing.”

The launch follows a year of consultation and roundtable discussions around the country (see Background below). Race Relations in Aotearoa New Zealand: Whanaungatanga ā Iwi: Statement on Race Relations contains the Statement and commentary which reflects the discussions that took place. The booklet is intended for use as a resource for advocacy, education and training.

Background to the Statement

The Statement on Race Relations follows on from the Statement on Religious Diversity which originated at the 2006 Diversity Forum and was published in May 2007. That Statement sought to provide a human rights framework for ongoing discussion and dialogue on issues raised by our increasing religious diversity.

The first draft of the Statement on Race Relations was released by the Race Relations Commissioner at the New Zealand Diversity Forum in August 2007, as a project of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme, facilitated by the Human Rights Commission. The draft comprised an introduction and a set of ten headings with corresponding statements on various key issues around race relations in New Zealand.

After the Diversity Forum in August 2007, a number of consultation meetings and roundtables were held across New Zealand to discuss the draft. These included meetings held by city and district Councils, community groups, academics at Victoria University and a meeting of government departments in Wellington. The feedback from these meetings was used to prepare a second draft that was promoted in March 2008 in association with Race Relations Day, as a tool for discussion on the theme of Finding Common Ground. It was the subject of a workshop at the Parihaka Peace Festival, formed part of the annual Te Papa Treaty debates, and was discussed in other community, academic and public sector forums.

Roundtables of New Zealand Diversity Action Programme participants were held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in May and June 2008 to consider the public feedback. The draft was further revised to reflect the outcome of this process and then presented in its final form at the New Zealand Diversity Forum 2008, one year from its original release. For a copy of Race Relations in Aotearoa New Zealand: Whanaungatanga ā Iwi: Statement on Race Relations, click here to view a HTML (to be added shortly) version,  or here for the Te Reo version and to view a PDF version click here.

For a hard copy of the booklet please email your request, along with your postal address, to NZDiversity@hrc.co.nz