Human Rights Commission

The Religious Diversity Network connects people and organisations with an interest or practical involvement in religious diversity issues, to keep them informed of initiatives and activities and to promote dialogue and understanding between people of different religions and beliefs and between faith communities and government. It encourages groups to undertake activities, projects and programmes that contribute to religious tolerance, public understanding of different religions, and interfaith cooperation for peace, security and harmonious relations.

The network is facilitated by the Human Rights Commission as part of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme. The Diversity Action Programme, a ten point plan to strengthen cultural diversity, was adopted by a community forum at Parliament in August 2004 following the desecration of two Jewish cemeteries in Wellington. The Programme includes a call for dialogue and exchange between different views, cultures and faiths, and the establishment of networks. Organisations are encouraged to register annual projects with the Diversity Action Programme that further the goals of the network. You can download the registration form here.

A religious diversity forum is held as part of the New Zealand Diversity Forum in August each year. The next forum will be held on August 2012 in Auckland.

Religion in the workplace was the focus at the 2009 Diversity Forum. Following recommendations arising from the forum, a working party and reference group was set up and guidelines developed to help answer questions and concerns about religious diversity in the workplace. Read Religious Diversity in the Workplace: Questions and Concerns.

A national interfaith forum is also organised by regional interfaith councils in February to March each year.

The Human Rights Commission produces a monthly e-newsletter, Te Korowai Whakapono, for the network. View archived copies to April 2009 here. Te Korowai Whakapono has a new look layout and you can view copies from May 2009 onwards here. You can also subscribe to the newsletter here.

The Statement on Religious Diversity provides a human rights framework to discuss and monitor religious diversity in New Zealand. An annual review of religious diversity is published in the Human Rights Commission’s Race Relations Report.

Human Rights in New Zealand Today, a report on the status of human rights in New Zealand is currently being reviewed. Read the draft chapter on the religion, The right to freedom of religion and belief (Word 200kb).