2 Guide to the rights to healthcare and health protection in Aotearoa New Zealand What are human rights? Human rights embody a set of key values and principles, such as manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, fairness, participation, decency, wellbeing, dignity, equity, freedom, autonomy, community, non-discrimination, responsibility, and accountability. Everyone has human rights from the moment they are born, no matter who they are. Human rights are the basic entitlements and freedoms that belong to everyone the basic needs for a healthy, safe life that enables all of us to reach our full potential. Some human rights are about freedom, for example, the freedom to practice a religion and have a family. Other human rights are about establishing fair institutions, systems, processes, and practices which enable us to enjoy decent housing, nutritious food, accessible education, effective healthcare for physical and mental health issues, and evidence-based health protection. 2 In Aotearoa New Zealand, all human rights must be firmly grounded on the four articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi: kāawanatanga, tino rangatiratanga, rite tahi and ngā ritenga katoa and the rights and obligation which flow from these.2 Alongside the human rights instruments which protect the universal rights to healthcare and health protection, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirm the rights of tangata whenua to: • Self-determination (mana motuhake) in the design, delivery, and monitoring of primary health care for tangata whenua • Health equity • Well-resourced traditional health practices, medicines, and resources • Work with the government in partnership in the governance, design, delivery, and monitoring of all health services. The fourth article of Te Tiriti is often referred to as the Ritenga Māori declaration.