The Human Rights Commission has issued a stinging list of "urgent" must-dos for New Zealand
The list is outline in a short film calling for immediacy to champion human rights.
The clip opens with scenic splendour of a beach, with a narrator describing Aotearoa as: "A magical land of unspoilt beauty, right on our back door. Literally, for hundreds of families living in cars."
The video then addresses Te Tiriti o Waitangi, rights of disabled people, indigenous people’s rights, the gender and ethnic pay gap, the right to a decent home, and rainbow rights.
The short film is called “A beautiful New Zealand is out there”. (Source: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata NZ Human Rights Commission) (Source: Supplied)
The commission said it timed the release ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In a statement this morning, the commission's acting chief Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo said: "Seventy-five years on, the rights outlined in the declaration remain as relevant as ever.
"Our short film, released today, tells some of the story of our beautiful country, which still has a way to go to fully uphold the rights of everyone who calls Aotearoa home.
“We’re famous for our natural beauty and laid-back lifestyle, but for many in New Zealand, this simply isn’t the Aotearoa they live in.
“The reality is, we have a lot of work to do to realise fundamental human rights for everyone in Aotearoa.”
The "urgent" list published includes:
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Aotearoa’s original human rights declaration
- Rights of disabled people: Disabled people in New Zealand have the same rights as everyone who lives in Aotearoa.
- Indigenous people’s rights: Aotearoa trails other democracies in realising Indigenous peoples' self-determination.
- The gender and ethnic pay gap: In Aotearoa, for every dollar a Pākehā man earns, a Pākehā woman earns $0.92.
- The right to a decent home: Aotearoa’s housing crisis is disproportionately impacting young people, refugee and migrant families, Māori, Pasifika, single parents, elderly and disabled people.
- Rainbow rights: people with Rainbow identities still struggle to have their basic rights realised, like the right to be safe and free from discrimination.
Act Party MP Todd Stephenson criticised the "gold-plated ad campaign" for pushing the "partnership" Treaty interpretation and decrying pay gaps.
“The Commission’s ‘must-do’ list could easily be mistaken for that of any left-wing action group," Stephenson said "We’ve got no shortage of lefty lobby groups in New Zealand and ACT doesn’t see why taxpayers should fund an extra one.”
“The Commission is beyond salvage. It needs to be abolished, with its resources allocated to more worthy causes.
"The Commission is practically begging to be scrapped.”
However, Sumeo said the highlighted issues were just some of the rights the Government should work towards protecting and promoting.
The commission said it wa also highlighting the services it provided to the public to educate about human rights.
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