Status of the Guidelines The Human Rights Act (1993), which establishes the Human Rights Commission, is designed: “to provide better protection of human rights in New Zealand in general accordance with United Nations Covenants or Conventions on Human Rights”. 1 The Act sets out the Commission’s primary functions, the first of which is: “to advocate and promote respect for, and an understanding and appreciation of, human rights in New Zealand society”. (section 5(1)(a)) Additionally, the Act gives the Commission numerous specific functions, including: “to prepare and publish, as the Commission considers appropriate, guidelines and voluntary codes of practice for the avoidance of acts or practices that may be inconsistent with, or contrary to, this Act”. (section 5(2)(e)) In accordance with its statutory functions, the Board of the Human Rights Commission adopted these Guidelines on the Human Right to a Decent Home in Aotearoa on X February 2021. The Commission’s management will review the Guidelines every 12 months and, if necessary, recommend revisions to the Board. The Board will review and, if necessary, revise, the Guidelines every three years. Methods The Commission worked closely with Pou Tangata and Pou Tikanga from the National Iwi Chairs Forum, Community Housing Aotearoa and many others in the preparation of the draft Guidelines. Prior to the drafting of the Guidelines, preliminary consultations were held with a wide range of stakeholders from June 2020 to the end of August. During this period, the Commission and Community Housing Aotearoa convened a number of hui to seek feedback on a discussion paper. Meetings were conducted predominately via Zoom as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with participation by people from around Aotearoa. For more detail on methodology, please refer to Appendix 1. 4