HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR A L L ? Background United Nations calls to reduce ethnic inequalities in New Zealand Over the past decade, several key United Nations (UN) monitoring bodies have expressed concern about ethnic solutions. He also recommended redoubled efforts, in consultation with Mäori leaders, to address the high rates of Mäori imprisonment, and a focus on urban Mäori when addressing Mäori social and economic disadvantage.30 inequalities in New Zealand, called for greater understanding In February 2011, the Committee on the Rights of the Child of the causes of inequalities, and for a continued focus, recommended the Government ensure full protection increased efforts and action to overcome these. against any grounds of discrimination, including urgent The UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination last examined New Zealand’s compliance with the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 2007. The Committee measures to address disparities in access to services for Mäori children and their families; and strengthen prevention of discrimination, including affirmative action if necessary, for vulnerable children.31 recommended increased efforts to prevent racial In May 2012, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and discrimination in the criminal justice system. New Zealand Cultural Rights received the Government’s report on New has just submitted its most recent report and is currently Zealand and released its recommendations. Among its scheduled to appear before the committee in early 2013.27 findings, the Committee expressed its concern “that Mäori In 2007, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urged the Government to implement measures to increase the participation of Mäori, Pacific peoples, minority groups and women in political decision-making positions at all levels. The UN Human Rights Council conducted its Universal Periodic Review of New Zealand’s human rights performance in 2009. Recommendations included government action to understand the causes of inequality and to address the socio-economic disparities suffered by vulnerable groups in New Zealand. The Council also recommended continued efforts to prevent discrimination in the criminal justice system and a commitment to combating the overrepresentation of Mäori.28 The UN Human Rights Committee examined New Zealand’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 2010. The Committee called on the Government to strengthen efforts to reduce the overrepresentation of Mäori, in particular Mäori women, in prisons and to increase efforts to prevent discrimination against Mäori in the administration of justice.29 and Pasifika continue to be disadvantaged in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, in spite of measures taken by the State party and improvements in the area of health and education.” (art. 2(2)) The Committee recommended that the Government: strengthen its efforts aimed at eliminating the disadvantages faced by Mäori and Pasifika in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by addressing structural factors and ensuring that relevant measures effectively benefit the most disadvantaged. The Committee also recommends that the State party set specific equality targets by year and closely monitor their achievement.32 Past government attempts to address ethnic inequalities Previous governments have tasked expert panels with reporting on inequalities in New Zealand, both in terms of the Mäori experience of inequality and in terms of broader ethnic, gender and age inequalities in social policy. These reports, as described below, included evidence and analysis of structural discrimination in New Zealand and recommendations to reduce structural discrimination. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous In 1985, the then Minister of Social Welfare, Ann Hercus, Peoples released his report on the situation of Mäori asked the Mäori Perspective Advisory Committee to in New Zealand in February 2011. He recommended advise her on the most appropriate way to meet the needs the Government continue work with whänau, iwi and of Mäori in policy, planning and service delivery in the Mäori leaders to assess the causes of discrepancies in Department of Social Welfare. health conditions and identify culturally-appropriate 9