made a number of recommendations for the reform of laws, policies and practices relating to health, education, science, intellectual property, indigenous flora and fauna, resource management, conservation, the Māori language, arts and culture, heritage, and the involvement of Māori in the development of New Zealand’s position on international instruments affecting indigenous rights. 61. However, as noted by CERD in 2012, the government has not yet announced a timetable for implementing this decision.liii The Commission recommends that the Government commit to fully protecting and promoting indigenous rights through appropriate measures in law, policy and practice, and promptly announce a timetable to implement the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision. 62. Water and water related issues – rivers, lakes, springs, riverbeds, lakebeds, wetlands, geothermal resources, marine fisheries, the foreshore and seabed, aquaculture, marine reserves, fresh water fish, deep sea drilling – have been a prominent feature of CrownMāori relations in the past two decades. Some communities continue to voice concerns about the adequacy of consultations with affected groups and individuals around these issues. 63. As recommended by CERD in 2013, the Commission urges the Government to enhance appropriate mechanisms for effective consultation with indigenous people around all policies affecting their ways of living and resources.liv i Including the New Zealand Centre for Human Rights Law, Policy and Practice; Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa; the Human Rights Foundation; Amnesty International; the Salvation Army; the Human Rights Lawyers Association; Wellington Community Justice Project; Law for Change and the Equal Justice Project. Support for hosting information events was also received from University law faculties throughout the country. ii Report of the UPR Working Group A/HRC/12/8, 11 May 2009, recommendation 64. iii The Human Rights Committee considered the fifth periodic report of New Zealand on 15 and 16 March 2010. iv The CRC considered New Zealand’s combined fourth and fifth periodic reports on 19 January 2011. v The CESCR considered New Zealand’s third periodic report on 18 May 2012. vi The CEDAW considered New Zealand’s seventh periodic report on 18 July 2012. vii The CERD considered the eighteenth to twentieth periodic reports of New Zealand on 21 and 22 February 2013. viii In 2011 the Ministry of Justice prepared a mid-term review of the steps taken to implement the UPR recommendations. This report was presented to civil society groups at one-off public meetings in the main population centres of New Zealand. ix See http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/dpmc/publications/mcop. The establishment of the Ministerial Committee on Poverty is an acknowledgement of the serious poverty issues at the highest political level. Committee is cochaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, giving the Committee senior Cabinet representation. x An unprecedented 11 Bills were passed by Parliament in 2012 giving effect to Treaty settlements. xi Community infrastructure includes churches, church halls and community centres. The loss of these facilities has been particularly challenging, increasing social isolation for some groups, especially older people and disabled people. xii E/C.12/NZL/CO/3 at paragraph 33. xiii See Recommendation from CESCR in 2012, E/C.12/NZL/CO/3 at para 33. xiv See Recommendations from the CRC in 2011, CRC/C/NZL/CO/3-4 at 60, from CESCR in 2012, E/C.12/NZL/CO/3 at 31, and from the CERD in 2013, CERD/C/NZL/CO/18-20 at 24. xv Under Article 14 of CERD, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination may consider complaints from individuals if the individual is within the jurisdiction of a state that has recognised the competence of the Committee to receive such complaints. xvi National Report Submitted in Accordance with Paragraph 15(A) of the Annex to Human Rights Council, Page 33 of 35