Human Rights Commission (New Zealand)

The commission was formed in 1977, and currently functions under the mandate of the Human Rights Act 1993. The Office of the Race Relations Conciliator was consolidated with the Human Rights Commission by an amendment to the Human Rights Act in 2001. The commission's primary functions are to "advocate and promote respect for, and an understanding and appreciation of, human rights in New Zealand society, and to encourage the maintenance and development of harmonious relations between individuals and among the diverse groups in New Zealand society".^[1]

The commission's functions include providing a dispute resolution service for complaints of unlawful discrimination, and racial or sexual harassment.

Chief Commissioner – Dr Karanina Sumeo (acting)
Race Relations Commissioner – Dr Karanina Sumeo (acting)
EEO (Equal Employment Opportunities) Commissioner – Dr Karanina Sumeo (acting)
Disability Rights Commissioner – Prudence Walker ,

Jeremy Pope served as a Commissioner until his death in August 2012.

The 1993 Act transformed the previous Race Relations Conciliator into a Race Relations Commissioner. Holders of the position have been:^[2][3]

• Sir Guy Powles (1972–1973)^[4]
• Harry Dansey (1975–1979)
• Hiwi Tauroa (1980–1986)^[5][6]
• Wally Hirsh (1986–1989)
• Chris Laidlaw (1989–1992)
• John Clarke (1992–1995)
• Dr Rajen Prasad (1995–2000)^[7]
• Gregory Fortuin (2001–2002)^[8][9]
• Joris de Bres (2002–2013)^[10]
• Dame Susan Devoy (2013–2018)^[11]
• Meng Foon (2019–2023)^[12][13]

The commission is one of some 70 NHRIs accredited by the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC), a body sponsored by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The commission's "A status" accreditation allows it special access to the United Nations human rights system, including speaking rights at the Human Rights Council and other committees. The commission has presented parallel reports ("shadow reports") to several UN treaty committees examining New Zealand's compliance with international human rights instruments. From 2010 to 2012 the Commission chaired the ICC, and the Asia Pacific Forum of NHRIs, one of four regional sub-groups of NHRIs.

In 2010 the Commission conducted a publicly available review of human rights in New Zealand in order to both identify the areas in which New Zealand does well, and where it could do better to combat persistent social problems. The 'report card' was an update of the Commission's first report in 2004, and led its work for the next five years.^[14] The report noted steady improvements in New Zealand's human rights record since 2004, but also "the fragility of some of the gains and areas where there has been deterioration."^[15] In the report, the Commission identified thirty priority areas for action on human rights in New Zealand under a number of sections: general; civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; and rights of specific groups.^[15]

In February 2018, Justice Minister Andrew Little commissioned an ministerial inquiry into the commission by retired judge Coral Shaw, following media reports of a sexual harassment scandal there.^[16] Sunday Star-Times journalist Harrison Christian had earlier reported a young American woman cut short her internship at the commission after she was groped by the organisation's chief financial officer at a work party.^[17] Shaw's review found the commission had failed in its handling of sexual harassment claims.^[18]

In August 2021, the Human Rights Commission launched an inquiry into the housing crisis, stating that successive governments had failed to meet their obligations according to international law, specifically to the right to a decent home.^[19] The initial phase of the inquiry resulted in the release of a report focused on strengthening accountability and participation in the housing system, with further work done to develop a tool called "Measuring Progress", designed to evaluate the state of housing against key indicators and international human rights obligations.^[20] The second phase of the inquiry has been on emergency housing and the conditions and protections of renters as key topic areas.^[20] The inquiry is expected to conclude mid-2023.^[20]

On 16 June 2023, Meng Foon resigned from his position as Race Relations Commissioner after failing to declare several conflicts of interest as required under the Crown Entities Act. Foon served as the director of an emergency housing company that had received income from government payments including over NZ$2 million in emergency accommodation funding. The Human Rights Commission had conducted an internal investigation into Foon's interests including emergency accommodation funding.^[13][21] Foon disputed that he had failed to declare his conflict of interest regarding the emergency accommodation funding and claimed that he had declared these interests prior to assuming his role as Race Relations Commissioner.^[21] Earlier in April 2023, Foon had attracted controversy for donating to both members of the Labour and National parties.^[22]

• Human rights in New Zealand
• Human Rights Commissions
• National Statement on Religious Diversity

• Official website
• National Human Rights Institutions Forum (NHRIs Global network) at the Library of Congress Web Archives (archived 2002-09-15)