• In a well-publicised and significant mediated outcome, parents
now registering a child’s birth will be able to select ‘mother’ ‘father’
or ‘parent’ with the effect that same-sex or transgender couples,
for example, will be able to choose the way they describe their
relationship to the child.
Outcomes recorded for individuals included: compensation; apology;
an interview or job reference; accommodation made for a disability;
an acknowledgment of the reality of the complainant’s situation;
reimbursement of lost wages; donation to a charity of choice; coaching
in self-resolution; and referral to an organisation better placed to help.
The Enquiries and Complaints team dealt with 11 ‘mega’ matters over
the year, representing 331 incoming enquiries and complaints. Mega
matters are high-profile issues that gain traction in the media and prompt
a significant number of complaints about the human rights issues raised.
Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter’s comments about boards being
mainly made up of “old white men” prompted 158 complaints to the
Commission, by far the largest number of media-generated complaints
this year. Businessman and social commentator Sir Bob Jones’ suggestion
that Waitangi Day be replaced was labelled racist, as was a pamphlet
associated with Don Brash entitled Hobson’s Pledge. Journalist Joel
Maxwell created controversy with an article considered to denigrate
pakeha. A video sermon by pastor Logan Robertson making statements
about gay people caused alarm and an Iranian diplomat’s comments
considered to be anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic, as well as comments by the
Commission on disharmonious speech all generated a rush of complaints.
Broader human
rights enquiries –
beyond unlawful
discrimination
In addition to specific complaints about unlawful discrimination under
the Human Rights Act, the Commission received a vast number of
enquiries on a wide variety of human rights issues. We considered 4737
complaints, enquiries and requests for action on other human rights
issues and closed 4674 within the year. Seventy percent (3314) were
responded to and closed within three days of being received.
During 2017-18, the Commission responded to queries and concerns
about systematic abuse of people in state mental health care and
prisons; low earnings of ride-sharing drivers; freedom of speech; age
discrimination in the appointment of staff; 5G technology and its
impact on safety and dignity; Treaty of Waitangi implications in several
areas, including financial market regulation and adoption; men’s issues;
funding for counselling and mental health; disabled parking; water;
international students; online abuse; bullying; funding for Citizens Advice
Bureau; golliwogs; Large Natural Grouping policy in Treaty of Waitangi
settlements; poverty; youth safety; special measures for Mäori and
vulnerable groups; and housing.
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Human Rights Commission