Human Rights and Te Tiriti o Waitangi: COVID-19 and Alert Level 4 in Aotearoa New Zealand Development (MSD) food grants increased from around 25,000 a week to 70,000. MSD is encouraging those who are struggling financially to contact them, but there continue to be major difficulties reaching MSD staff to discuss needs. The food grants are only in the form of a one-off emergency grant, rather than ongoing support. The allocation by the government of an additional $30 million support package to bolster the delivery of food and welfare assistance is very welcome. Further steps need to be taken to ensure this assistance is accessible in a timely manner to all of those who need it. Housing Before the pandemic, the level of homelessness already far outstripped the level of available assistance. Housing is one of the most significant living costs, particularly for those living in poverty. In January this year, the number people on the social housing waiting list was over 14,000. One in four households already spend 40% or more of their household income on rent and housing costs. Since the pandemic, the government’s rent freeze and other tenancy changes stop a landlord from increasing rent and limit the options for termination. However, landlords can still terminate a tenancy if a tenant falls 60 days behind in rent. For those who have lost all income as a result of redundancy, business closure or downturn in hours, paying rent is likely to be a struggle. Long term rent caps and further assistance measures will need to be considered. Reflecting on employment, poverty, housing These employment, poverty and housing issues arising from the COVID-19 response implicate numerous human rights. For example, the right to work, the right to adequate food, the right to adequate housing, the 16 right to fair and just working conditions, including safe and healthy working conditions, and fair wages which provide a decent standard of living for families. Successive governments have adopted and affirmed these human rights. In addition, there are obligations on business to ensure the human rights of workers are respected. Existing employment and income inequities for Mäori are likely to be exacerbated by the crisis, making it even more critical that responses are firmly grounded in Te Tiriti. There is high Mäori participation in significantly affected industries (e.g. primary industries), and in insecure and low-paid work. Mäori have been proactive in providing support to whänau, businesses and communities, and in developing tikanga- and mätauranga-based responses to the economic impacts of the pandemic. In Level 3 and beyond, a Tiriti and human rights approach can help the government devise and deliver robust, equitable, effective economic policies. This can help to ensure a commitment to good faith in employment relations, equal employment opportunities, collective bargaining and fair pay agreements, flexible work, and enhanced diversity in the workplace. Economic recovery efforts provide opportunities to embed Te Tiriti and human rights into government responses and to work in partnership with iwi and Mäori. Any fast-tracked development projects must uphold indigenous rights to lands and resources, in line with Te Tiriti and the human rights obligation of free, prior and informed consent.