Academic Critical of UN Rapporteur Visit

AUT University Professor of History, Paul Moon, has hit out at the United Nations special rapporteur on indigenous human rights, James Anaya, who is currently preparing a report on the state of New Zealand’s race relations and the Crown’s commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.

Dr. Moon has raised two concerns about the UN official’s visit. Firstly, he has queried Dr Anaya’s credentials to comment on Treaty of Waitangi issues, saying that the UN official has no research track record in the field, and that there are dozens of people in New Zealand who are far better qualified to offer comment in this area.

And secondly, Dr. Moon has questioned the value of the visit. He cites previous UN visits for this purpose that produced reports that few people read, and that achieved nothing lasting or tangible.

“In the end,” says Dr. Moon, “the result of the visit will be another expensive report that will do little to improve race relations in the country”.

ENDS

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