A new inter-agency human rights National Mechanism Cabinet recently approved a new initiative that will help to address these problems. It is establishing a new human rights National Mechanism within government to improve reporting and implementation of New Zealand’s international human rights treaty obligations.15 As Cabinet put it:16 This proposal will support meaningful implementation of New Zealand’s international human rights obligations. This includes the civil and political rights affirmed in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 but also the economic, social and cultural rights that are fundamental to wellbeing (such as housing, health, education and employment rights). This promising initiative describes three components: • A high-level inter-agency governance group to develop and maintain a culture of understanding and respect for New Zealand’s international human rights obligations throughout the public service. • A web-based monitoring tool to record the government’s progress towards implementing these obligations. • Guidelines to describe the basic steps government agencies should follow to meet their reporting and implementation obligations under the core international human rights treaties New Zealand has ratified. We hope this chapter is received as a modest contribution towards the Cabinet’s initiative, especially implementation guidelines for the international right to a decent home grounded on te Tiriti o Waitangi. 2. Integrating human rights and te Tiriti o Waitangi into housing policy making 15