Realise the promises of Te Tiriti and rights for tāngata whaikaha Māori under UNDRIP and UNCRPD Government has an obligation to realise the promises of Te Tiriti, and the full array of rights for tāngata whaikaha Māori under UNDRIP and the UNCRPD. The realisation of these rights is necessary to improve well-being outcomes and prevent violence and abuse for tāngata whaikaha Māori in the long term. Realising the rights to ōritetanga under Article 3 of Te Tiriti, Article 2 of UNDRIP, and Article 8 and 19 of the UNCRPD requires tāngata whaikaha Māori to be supported to participate fully and equally in society. They must have the ability to live ordinary lives like others at similar stages of life, free from discrimination. Tāngata whaikaha Māori must be regarded as citizens with opportunities for learning, employment, housing, and social participation. To uphold the rights of self-determination (Articles 3, 4, 5 UNDRIP) and tino rangatiratanga (Article 2 Te Tiriti), tāngata whaikaha Māori must have access to the services they wish to access, based on good information that is also accessible to them. Tāngata whaikaha Māori, their whānau, hapū and iwi must be part of decision making on disability policy and supported to determine and lead solutions. Tāngata whaikaha Māori must be supported to participate fully in Te Ao Māori. This will uphold wairuatanga guaranteed by the oral clause of Te Tiriti, Articles 9, 11, and 13 of UNDRIP, and Article 30 of the UNCRPD. Tāngata whaikaha Māori currently find it more difficult to access information in their own language. Government must promote use of Te Reo Māori, and improve accessibility to disability services and information that is in their own language. Tāngata whaikaha Māori should be supported to access cultural knowledge, engage in knowledge creation, and transfer that knowledge amongst themselves. Reconnecting tāngata whaikaha Māori with their whānau and whakapapa is also imperative to improving outcomes and supporting tāngata whaikaha Māori to confidently participate in Te Ao Māori. Overall, the UNDRIP provides a framework for upholding Te Tiriti and addressing the multiple, entrenched inequities faced by tāngata whaikaha Māori. However, there are significant gaps between the rights and obligations affirmed in the declaration and Te Tiriti and their implementation and enjoyment in practice. This is particularly the case in relation to rangatiratanga and self-determination, and in the array of inequities Māori experience, including in relation to violence. Work towards a national action plan for the declaration was affirmed by the government in 2020 and presents an opportunity to develop a coordinated approach to the UNDRIP’s implementation. The voice of tāngata whaikaha Māori is critical to developing an inclusive and effective action plan. He Puapua (2019), the report of the Working Group tasked with advising on the possible content and process of a national action plan noted: The rights and interests of tāngata whaikaha Māori (disabled), wāhine Māori (women), kaumātua (the elderly), rangatahi (youth), tamariki Māori (children), and takatāpui (LGBTIQ+) communities must also be front and centre of both a Declaration plan and engagement.102 Whakamanahia Te Tiriti, Whakahaumarutia te Tangata - Honour the Treaty, Protect the person 23

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