1. Introduction The General Election in November 2011 resulted in the return of a National led Government, with support from the Māori, United Future and ACT Parties. The confidence and supply agreement reached with the Māori Party is focused on a number of key race relations issues, including, in particular, the economic and social disadvantage experienced by Māori. Also significant was the outcome of the referendum on the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) representation system for parliamentary elections – a clear majority favouring its retention. MMP has been responsible for a much more diverse Parliament since its introduction in 1996. Just over a quarter of all MPs in the new Parliament identify as Māori, Pacific or Asian, similar to the proportions in the previous Parliament. The number of Māori MPs remained the same at 21, the number of Pacific MPs increased from five to six, and the number of Asian MPs reduced from six to five. The new Cabinet has four Māori Ministers, including two on the front bench. Cabinet was sworn in in December by the new Governor General, Lt General Jerry Mateparae, who is also Māori. Each chapter of this year’s report includes a brief look back over the past five years in order to inform the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in conducting their five yearly review of race relations in New Zealand. Some of the features of that period have been: • the growth of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme, with around 250 organisations each year delivering a total of more than 3200 diversity projects • the introduction of a new curriculum for schools emphasising the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi, cultural diversity and human rights • the transition to a new “super-city” in Auckland with new structures and programmes to include its diverse communities • the continuing experience by Asian New Zealanders of a higher level of discrimination and harassment than other groups • significant progress in the hearing and settlement of claims by Māori of historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi by the Crown • the persistence of disadvantage experienced by Māori and Pacific peoples in terms of social and economic rights • an improved framework for immigration and settlement, and a more inclusive and strategic approach to refugee resettlement 4