Human Rights Commission
Media Release
9 March 2007

UN to consider New Zealand report card on race relations

A UN Committee will this year examine New Zealand's record in race relations.

The five yearly report on New Zealand's progress in complying with the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) was produced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Commenting on the report in the Human Rights Commission's annual review of race relations, published today, Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres says he hopes the Government and the CERD committee will be able to engage on priorities for the next five years.

He says that New Zealand has faced many significant issues that impact on race relations since 2001 including:

• An increase in ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.
• The impact of 9/11, terrorism and counter-terrorism, conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan, and religious and racial tensions in Europe, Australia and the Pacific.Â
• Major public debate on race relations in 2003-05
• Treaty claims and settlements.
• Increased support for language diversity.
• The reduction of economic and social disparities between Maori and Pacific people and other New Zealanders.
• A major review of human rights in New Zealand and the development of a Human Rights Action Plan.

In the Commission's review, Mr de Bres says the race relations challenges for the next five years include:

• Reducing ethnic disparities.Â
• Strengthening the Crown-Māori relationship.
• Providing for Migration and Settlement.
• Strengthening relationships between diverse communities.
• Determining government action on the New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights.

The UN will consider the CERD report in July/August this year.

The CERD report and Race Relations in 2006 can be found at www.hrc.co.nz

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