The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions The New Zealand Human Rights Commission173 has a specific mandate to “‘promote by research, education and discussion a better understanding of the human rights dimensions of the Treaty of Waitangi and their relationship with domestic and international human rights law”. The Commission promotes the Declaration alongside its Treaty work. The team within the Commission tasked with leading this work is called “Ahi Kaa”, which in the Maori language means “to keep the home fires burning”. In practice, its role is to: • Facilitate relationships between the Commission and Maori communities • Provide advocacy and leadership for the Commission’s role in promoting respect for, and an understanding of, indigenous rights • Promote the Treaty of Waitangi to the public as the promise of two peoples to take the best possible care of each other • Assist the Commission to include indigenous rights and the Treaty across all of the work of the Commission. Creating an indigenous presence within NHRIs can also be advanced through specific programmes of work. NHRIs could seek to establish units or programmes specifically focused on advancing the protection, promotion and realization of the human rights of indigenous peoples.173174 NEW DELHI GUIDELINES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES174 In October 2008, representatives of indigenous peoples attended a regional conference organized by Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network. The conference adopted guidelines for the establishment of any National Institution on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These guidelines focused on areas including: • Constitution; mandate, staff composition and appointment and structure • Functions and powers; quasi-judicial functions, investigatory powers • Procedures; inquires and reporting • Financial autonomy. These guidelines can assist NHRIs in establishing indigenous-specific units within their institutions. 173 Information provided by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. 174 Available at www.aitpn.org/NIRIPS/new_delhi_guidelines.pdf. 50 | Chapter 6: Accessibility of NHRIs to indigenous peoples