11. The incorporation of the SDGs into the New Zealand public policy framework is currently at a very early stage. As a developed country, New Zealand will be expected to report on its sustainable development indicators.3 These indicators, which are being developed by the UN with the assistance of national statistics commissions, including Statistics New Zealand, will provide an international benchmark that will assist with the assessment of measures taken to implement ICESCR. 12. The government is currently undertaking a significant amount of work to upgrade and improve its data usage and capabilities. The Data Futures Partnership (“DFP”) currently being developed by Statistics New Zealand, will be at the centre of this work. The DFP consists of a cross-sector Working Group of “influential individuals” drawn from the government and non-government sectors, supported by a Secretariat based at Statistics New Zealand to support the DFP work programme. The DFPs mandate includes the development of data use projects that allow progress on system-wide public sector issues. 13. The Committee may wish to consider including the following questions in its LOIPR for New Zealand:  What steps is the government taking to incorporate the SDGs into its public policy framework?  How does the government intend to monitor and review its progress in meeting its ICESCR related commitments under the SDGs?  What steps is the government taking – as part of the DFP or otherwise - to develop systems to collect robust disaggregated data regarding the extent, cause and mitigating/aggravating factors for vulnerable populations in New Zealand? B. Business and Human Rights 14. The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (“UNGPs”) were unanimously endorsed by the UN in late 2011. 15. Application of the UNGPs would support ICESCR rights compliance. However, the New Zealand government is yet to take any concrete steps towards incorporating the UNGPs within its policy and regulatory frameworks. Furthermore the government has not made any commitment to develop a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. 16. Through the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery the role of business in protecting economic, social and cultural rights has come to the fore. This has been particularly 3 https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/1684SF_-_SDG_Universality_Report__May_2015.pdf 4