SECTION 2 - BACKGROUND AND GENERAL MATTERS OF IMPLEMENTATION 7 New Zealand generally has high levels of human rights realisation. New Zealanders are generally free to say what they think, read and view what they like, worship where and how they choose, move feely around the country and feel confident in the laws that protect them from discrimination and the arbitrary abuse of power. Most New Zealanders also experience the benefits of the economic, social and cultural rights – education, decent work, good health and affordable, healthy housing. New Zealand is one of the States ranked with Very High Human Development by the UNDP’s Human Development Index. However, in the last thirty years, as in many other developed countries, there are a significant minority of New Zealanders who are being left behind in realisation of social and economic rights and opportunities. 8 Since 2012 there have been some significant achievements, including:      1 greater recognition of the equality of same-sex couples with the recent passage of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013; significant progress in settling historic breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. Between January 2011 and September 2015, 39 Bills have been passed by Parliament giving effect to Treaty settlements.1 As Māori and the Crown continue to make progress with Treaty settlements, innovative forms of redress have emerged. These have related to things such as recognition of mana and recognition of cultural taonga; initiatives which aim to close gaps in the realisation of human rights and give better effect to cultural expertise and the principle of self determination. Examples of this approach are Ka Hikitia – Accelerating Success 2013 -2017,2 the Pasifika Education Plan 2013 – 20173, the introduction of ten marae4-based courts and two Pasifika courts for Māori and Pacific young people involved in the youth justice system, and the introduction of The Turning the Tide Strategy5; the release of the Constitutional Advisory Panel’s report on the Constitutional Conversation; Formation of a Bullying Prevention Advisory Group under the leadership of the Secretary of Education which is leading the implementation of the Bullying Prevention Action Plan. If this plan is fully implemented the Government will have fully met the recommendations made in the last four years by UN Treaty Bodies and by States in the Universal Periodic Review; https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/OTS/Quarterly-report-to-30-September-2015.pdf http://www.education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/overall-strategies-and-policies/the-maori-education-strategy-kahikitia-accelerating-success-20132017/ 3 http://www.education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/overall-strategies-and-policies/pasifika-education-plan-2013-2017/ 4 The marae is the focal point of Maori communities throughout New Zealand. Marae are used for meetings, celebrations, funerals, and other important events. Maori people see their Marae as turungawaewae – their place to stand and belong. 5 http://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/maori-police/turning-tide 2