Our values Mana tangata – human dignity We believe in the inherent dignity, mana, and rights of all people and that all people deserve respect, even if we do not agree with them. Dignity and mana are at the heart of human rights, as reflected in the International Bill of Human Rights,5 which underpins all international human rights. Māia, tika, pono – courage and integrity The benefits of our work should be equally accessible to all. We have a history and experience, including a knowledge base that gives us direction that we can use to advance what we know and believe in. Courage helps the Commission be heard on the hard and important issues. We have to stand up for peace and harmony and disarm people of prejudice and hatred. Our work will be trusted and credible, honest, effective, and efficient. This is about maintaining the trust of those who need us. We are true to our mandate, as found in documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Human Rights Act 1993, the Paris Principles, the Crown Entities Act 2004 and te Tiriti o Waitangi. ‘Walking our talk’ – we do internally what we are charged with promoting. Whanaungatanga – relationships We believe in the interconnectedness and indivisibility of all things - unity is not uniformity, diversity is not division. This reflects the idea of kotahitanga. Whānau are a base institution for communities and nationhood, and whānau are integral to the enjoyment of human rights. This reflects the importance of whakapapa. Relationships are a medium for achieving our goals – kaupapa. How we form and conduct 5 our relationships is informed by the concept of manaaki. We believe in protecting the most vulnerable, so they become the protectors of the next generation. Our relationships are intergenerational. We believe in encouraging and empowering people and communities. Consists of three foundation instruments: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 18 | Strategic Plan 2021-2025