12 May 2016

Māori Party saves Race Relations and Equal Opportunities Commissioners roles

The Māori Party has successfully argued for the statutory recognition of the roles of Race Relations Commissioner and Equal Opportunities Commissioner within the Human Rights Commission.

The Human Rights Amendment Bill being considered today before Parliament intended to disband the roles of Race Relations and Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioners. The responsibilities of these two roles were intended to be shared among other Commissioners.

The Māori Party urged Justice Minister Amy Adams to continue these roles in the new structure of the Human Rights Commission.

“We only need to look at the comments of Mike Hosking regarding Māori wards in the past week to know that these distinct positions are necessary” says Māori Party Co-Leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

“These roles make strong contributions to enable a more equitable and balanced society, and we will continue to promote their importance” he says.

Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox says: “the recent publication by right wing blogger Cameron Slater of a severely racist cartoon is another strong example of why we need these important roles”.

“Using the issue of child abuse to convey racist commentary is both repulsive and hateful. Child abuse is a whole of population issue that affects people of all backgrounds,” she says.

ENDS

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