HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR A L L ? From 2000, the focus of policy discourse on ethnic inequalities shifted. In 2003, the Government re-branded its approach to addressing social and economic disparity, with less emphasis on ethnicity. Reducing Inequalities was a whole-of-government policy of social and economic initiatives. It aimed to “ensure a more equal distribution of the determinants of wellbeing across society, i.e. greater equalities of real opportunities, where family background, ethnicity or disability are not major determinants of individuals’ life chances”.38 Current approaches to address ethnic inequalities: Whänau Ora Whänau Ora is the most recent cross-agency initiative to try and address structural discrimination, particularly in respect of Mäori whänau (although the Prime Minister emphasised in 2010 that the service was open to all New Zealanders).44 Initiated after the 2008 election, as part of the National-led government’s confidence and supply agreement with the Mäori party, Whänau Ora is still a relatively new programme, so assessment of its success or otherwise is premature. Political backlash to special measures to reduce ethnic Nonetheless it represents a systematic attempt to tackle inequality flared up with National Party leader Don Brash’s inequalities, particularly for Mäori.45 Orewa speech of 2004. In his speech, he said “there can be no basis for special privileges for any race, no basis for government funding based on race.”39 In response to the Orewa speech, the Government in 2005 established a ministerial review into ethnically-based programmes and targeting in the core public sector.40 The review provided advice on what it considered an appropriate rationale for ethnicity-based policies. It identified 25 specific policies and programmes, some of which were phased out, some modified and others considered justified. Economist Paul The Whänau Ora programme, informed by the 2010 report of the Taskforce on Whänau-Centred Initiatives,46 asks government agencies to “commit to a new way of working with whänau that includes an outcomes focus and working with other agencies.”47 The premise of Whänau Ora is to overcome structural barriers by tying social services together so that they can be accessed more easily for whänau in need, while at the same time empowering whänau to provide for their own development.48 Callister notes that “this reduction of programmes seems The following factors can be identified as key to the to have been undertaken on a somewhat ad hoc basis programme’s potential: rather than as part of a systematic, rigorous and publicly debated change in social policy direction.”41 Drawing on lessons learned during the review, the State Services Commission published Guidance for designing needs based policies and programmes in 2005.42 This change in policy direction received international attention. In 2007, the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination welcomed the Government’s reassessment of special measures programmes, but noted concern that the review was adopted in a political climate unfavourable to the rights of Mäori. The Committee recommended that the Government take steps to ensure 1. Whänau Ora is intended to be community-led, with support from government agencies. 2. There is a clear expectation that the voice of whänau is not lost as Whänau Ora develops. Whänau Ora asks government agencies to adopt the “default setting” of asking “what difference will this make for whänau?” 3. Government agency leadership is engaged with community leadership. The Governance Board consists of government agency chief executives and community leaders, allowing for an efficient flow of ideas. 4. Although Whänau Ora is a national programme, it the public at large was informed about the nature also allows for strong regional direction. Whänau and relevance of special measures and New Zealand’s circumstances vary across the country. Regional obligations under the Convention for the Elimination of All leadership groups reflect Mäori leadership in each region Forms of Racial Discrimination. and will help ensure Whänau Ora services are developed 43 to reflect the circumstances in each region. In the interviews with people involved with Whänau Ora, the Commission have heard that it has “the potential to be responsible for the revitalisation of whänau, just as Köhanga Reo did for te reo”. 11