Information and Dispute Resolution
Overview
The Information and Dispute Resolution
(IDR) rōpu was formed in 2023 to respond to
enquiries and complaints from people who
believe they have been discriminated against
under the Human Rights Act (the Act). Our rōpū
comprises two teams.
• The Human Rights Information and Support
Services team, which receives and triages all
enquiries and complaints to the Commission,
and can provide information, support and
early resolution for complaints that do not
meet the unlawful discrimination criteria in
the Act.
• The Dispute Resolution team, which assesses
all complaints alleging unlawful discrimination
and offers mediation for complaints that meet
the criteria.
During 2022-23 IDR:
• Received and responded to 5619 enquiries
and complaints.
• Completed 5730 enquiries and complaints.
• Assessed and responded to 887 complaints
alleging unlawful discrimination.2
• Completed 1022 complaints alleging unlawful
discrimination.
• Held 152 mediations3 to resolve complaints
alleging unlawful discrimination.
IDR prides itself on the quality of service it
provides people who are often at their most
vulnerable. 82% of people who responded to our
mediation satisfaction survey4 told us they were
satisfied or very satisfied with their experience.
91%5 of alleged unlawful discrimination enquiries
and complaints received were closed/resolved
within 12 months.
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Human Rights Information and Support
Services Team
The Human Rights
Information and Support
Services team (HRISS) is the
first point of contact for the
Commission. HRISS triages
the majority of enquiries
and complaints received
from members of the
public, organisations, and
agencies across Aotearoa.
The Commission
responded to
5619
enquiries
and complaints
HRISS refers complaints that allege unlawful
discrimination to our Dispute Resolution Team
to assess, and where appropriate, provide
dispute resolution services (Part 3 of the Act).
HRISS can offer support in some situations
where people complain about racism and
harmful speech, as part of the Commission’s
broader commitment to encourage harmonious
relations (Section 5 of the Act). We do this by
providing information or by offering to facilitate
conversations between consenting parties.
For most enquiries and complaints, HRISS offers
information about the Act and human rights
more broadly. We also help empower people to
find their own solutions and, where appropriate,
we link people with our teams who support
commissioners or are undertaking a relevant
public project.
If we receive an enquiry or complaint we cannot
meaningfully assist with, we refer or actively link
people with appropriate organisations, such as
government agencies, community services, or
the Office of the Ombudsman.
661 of the 887 complaints were closed.
Mediation is a process where an impartial mediator helps parties safely work through the issues and discuss possible ways
to resolve the complaint.
The Commission received 17 mediation survey responses from 88 surveys sent.
12 month rolling average
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