Māori representation in Local Government (Article 25 (a)) Māori are under-represented in local government with the result that a Māori perspective is often not reflected in the governance of local resources, and those who do govern have limited connection with Māori communities or can misunderstand Māori aspirations. That is in spite of changes to the legislative framework to provide ways for councils to address the imbalance. The Local Government Act places specific Treaty of Waitangi obligations on councils about facilitating participation by Māori in decision-making. Through the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2002 all councils have the option of establishing Māori seats (wards for district and city councils, constituencies for regional councils). Some councils have consulted Māori on whether to take up this option, but few have done so. Given this lack of take up it is time to reconsider the legislative framework for local government representation. The Committee recommends that the Government examine how its Treaty of Waitangi responsibilities are carried out in the powers and functions it delegates to local government. Adoption of National Plan of Action (Article 2) The Commission has statutory responsibility for the development of a National Plan of Action for human rights. In 2005 the Commission developed the first 5 year action plan. The Human Rights Committee welcomed the action plan and recommended that the State should engage in the development and official adoption, as government policy, of a further national human rights action plan for 2010-2015. In 2010, the Commission undertook a re-evaluation of the status of human rights in New Zealand as a precursor to developing a further plan of action. Now, with a new Minister of Justice, it is preparing a second action plan which will involve the audit of government departments’ SOIs to establish what human rights issues will be promoted to strengthen human rights and better ensure the dignity, equality and security of all New Zealanders. The Commission urges the Committee to endorse the development and official acceptance of a human rights action plan for 2012-2017. Yours sincerely Dr Judy McGregor, EEO Commissioner Page 19 of 35