Looking ahead The Shaw Report identified that the Commission’s baseline funding has not been reviewed since Budget 2007. As a result, the report found there was a chronic lack of resources required for the Commission to deliver its work, and its ability to fund activity from reserves was limited. A key activity in the coming year will be completing a review of baseline funding to ensure the long-term financial stability of the Commission to ensure it has the necessary funding to function effectively as New Zealand’s national human rights institution. The Commission will continue to advocate for the status of the Treaty of Waitangi; to eradicate family violence; discrimination and inequality; to close the gender pay gap; combat child poverty; and protect the rights to housing, health and education. The rights of disabled people, who remain socially and economically disadvantaged, will also be a focus area for the Commission. As part of its indigenous and Treaty of Waitangi rights work, the Commission will continue to advocate for better outcomes for Mäori. In early 2019, New Zealand’s human rights record will be reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The recommendations from New Zealand’s 2014 UPR formed the basis for our current National Action Plan on Human Rights (NPA). We expect that the recommendations from New Zealand’s third UPR will form the basis for the next iteration of the NPA. Organisational changes Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero, who was appointed in mid-2017, took over as the acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner on 25 May 2018 and continues in the role until a new Chief Commissioner is appointed. This followed the decision of the former Chief Human Rights Commissioner David Rutherford to leave the Commission at the end of the financial year in June. Mr Rutherford had been Chief Commissioner since 2011 and his term expired in 2016. Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy’s term expired in March 2018. She did not seek reappointment and left the Commission at the end of June. Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue’s term expired in June 2018. She agreed to continue in her role until new Commissioners were appointed. The Commission thanks David, Susan and Jackie for their valuable insights, advocacy and significant contributions to the protection of human rights in New Zealand. The achievements detailed in this report owe a lot to the dedication and hard work of the outgoing Commissioners. Annual Report 2018 9