The Chief Executive of the Commission manages all staff of the
Commission except the staff of the Office of Human Rights Proceedings.
The Director of Human Rights Proceedings decides whether to provide
legal representation to applicants whose complaints of unlawful
discrimination have not been resolved through the Commission’s
dispute resolution process. The Director’s functions also include bringing
proceedings under the Privacy Act 1993 in respect to interferences
with privacy referred by the Privacy Commissioner. Claims of unlawful
discrimination or interference with privacy are heard in the Human Rights
Review Tribunal. The Director manages the staff of the Office of Human
Rights Proceedings.
Goals and
Strategic Impacts
2015/16
The Commission’s vision is that ‘People in New Zealand live together
harmoniously, sharing a common respect for each other’s inherent dignity
and human rights’.
Our Statement of Intent (SOI) 2014/15 – 2017/18 outlines the outcomes
and the strategic impacts that we intend to have to achieve this vision.
Our outcomes are:
• An inclusive society where people actively participate in decisions
which affect them and feel that they belong
• Equality of opportunity and non-discrimination
• Fair, transparent and accountable decision-making
Our strategic impacts are:
• More people in New Zealand know and practise their rights and fulfil
their responsibility to respect the human dignity and rights of others
• People and organisations with legal obligations to respect and protect
human dignity and rights do so
• Better remedies for breaches of human dignity and rights
• Increased observance of procedural safeguards by decision-makers
when exercising their legislative oversight and public sector
management responsibilities
• Effective engagement of specific groups in decision-making affecting
them and in the design of their communities
• Development of a culture where violence and abuse is not tolerated or
unreported
• Increased adoption of effective policies and practices that provide for
equality of opportunity and non-discrimination.
Annual Report 2016
17