Our audit was completed on 10 December 2020. This is the date at which our opinion is expressed. The basis for our opinion is explained below, and we draw attention to the impact of Covid-19 on the Human Rights Commission. In addition, we outline the responsibilities of the Board and our responsibilities relating to the financial statements and the performance information, we comment on other information, and we explain our independence. Emphasis of matter – Impact of Covid-19 Without modifying our opinion, we draw attention to the disclosures about the impact of Covid-19 on the Human Rights Commission as set out in Note 17 and 18 to the financial statements and page 32 of the performance information. Basis for our opinion We carried out our audit in accordance with the Auditor-General’s Auditing Standards, which incorporate the Professional and Ethical Standards and the International Standards on Auditing (New Zealand) issued by the New Zealand Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Responsibilities of the auditor section of our report. We have fulfilled our responsibilities in accordance with the Auditor-General’s Auditing Standards. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Responsibilities of the Board for the financial statements and the performance information The Board is responsible on behalf of the Human Rights Commission for preparing financial statements and performance information that are fairly presented and comply with generally accepted accounting practice in New Zealand. The Board is responsible for such internal control as it determines is necessary to enable it to prepare financial statements and performance information that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements and the performance information, the Board is responsible on behalf of the Human Rights Commission for assessing the Human Rights Commission’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Board is also responsible for disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting, unless there is an intention to merge or to terminate the activities of the Human Rights Commission, or there is no realistic alternative but to do so. The Board’s responsibilities arise from the Crown Entities Act 2004 and the Public Finance Act 1989. Responsibilities of the auditor for the audit of the financial statements and the performance information Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and the performance information, as a whole, are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. 60 Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2019/20