UN Rapporteur's Preliminary Report

Below is the preliminary report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous People.

The rapporteur, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, visited New Zealand from 16 to 25 November, investigating the state of Maori in New Zealand. He met with a range of Government and Maori representatives.

National Party Maori Affairs Spokesman Gerry Brownlee attacked the report, saying that it was full of unsubstantiated assertions and loaded language.

"New Zealanders don't need to be told by the UN what it means to be a Kiwi. Fair-minded Kiwis will reject these statements outright, because they know them to be untrue," he said.

The Maori Party welcomed the findings, noting the rapporteur description of New Zealand's race relations as 'favourable' and his mentioning of disparity, self-determination and institutional racism.

The rapporteur's full report in due in April 2006. New Zealand is due to make a report to the UN committe monitoring the elimination of discrimination this year.

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ENDS

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