Government ensures that it has in place an inclusive model that fully complies with
international human rights standards.
50.
In addition, in a recent 2017 judgment the Supreme Court has ruled that the Crown
has enforceable fiduciary duties towards Māori in relation to 19th century land
purchases26. The effect of this decision is to provide Māori with an additional legal
means of redress in respect of historic claims concerning land.
51.
Recommendation 5: That the Committee urges the Government to:
(a) Outline its progress to date in implementing the recommendations from the
Waitangi Tribunal’s Wai 262 decision and issue a concrete plan and timetable
for implementing the remainder.
(b) Take immediate steps to review its “large natural group” policy with a view to
replacing it with a policy that fully complies with both the Treaty of Waitangi
and international human rights standards regarding the participation rights of
indigenous people.
Criminal Justice System
52.
New Zealand has a disproportionately high incarceration rate. New Zealand has 204
prisoners per 100,000 people, the 7th highest in the OECD.
53.
While Māori make up only 15% of New Zealand’s population, they account for a
disproportionate amount of those coming into contact with the criminal justice
system – both as victims and offenders. Rates of victimisation across most offence
types – particularly violent offences – are significantly higher for Māori. Māori are
also over-represented at the other end of the criminal justice spectrum; in New
Zealand’s arrests, prosecutions, convictions, imprisonments and re-imprisonments.
54.
The Human Rights Commission was successful in receiving funding from the Special
Fund of OPCAT for a project to review seclusion and restraint practices. The
resulting report written by an expert in this area, Dr Sharon Shalev, found that
prisoners of non-European descent were much more likely to be on directed
segregation (being separated for disciplinary reasons). Between May and October
2016, Māori and Pasifika made up approximately 80 per cent of Directed
Segregations. By comparison, New Zealanders of European descent accounted for
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people: Mission to New
Zealand 62nd session E/CN.4/2006/78/Add.3 (2006) paras 89-90 and 93-95
26
Wakatu v Attorney-General [2017] SCNZ 17
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