The Human Rights Foundation promotes and defends human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad, through research-based education and advocacy.
The country’s highest court has ruled that the High Court was acting within its powers when it declared legislation banning prisoner voting is a breach of New Zealand’s human rights laws. The Supreme Court ruled courts have the power to make a statement of declaration when laws are inconsistent with the bill of rights. It follows
Come and hear newly appointed EEO Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo at our AGM on 28 November 2018 at 6pm – drinks and nibbles at 5:30! ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND WHEN: 6:00pm on Wednesday 28 November 2018 (with drinks/nibbles from 5:30pm) WHERE: St Columba Centre, 40
Denying New Zealand’s prisoners the right to vote is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights, the country’s highest court has ruled. The Supreme Court released its judgment today upholding an earlier High Court decision saying the courts had jurisdiction to make a “declaration of inconsistency”. A majority of the five Supreme Court judges, comprising Chief
Video footage shows notorious prison ‘bush lawyer’ Arthur Taylor being forcibly taken while unconscious from Auckland to Waikeria Prison – but maltreatment is strongly denied by Corrections. Arthur Taylor, his lawyer Sue Earl, Otago University former Dean of Law Mark Henaghan, and advocate Hazel Heal want Corrections to release the footage to the public. Henaghan and Heal
A massive survey on workplace gender has been released, aimed at giving companies better insights into their female talent base. Champions for Change, a business group which champions diversity, surveyed more than 80,000 employees in 29 organisations, including some of New Zealand’s largest companies. … This year’s survey confirmed women were under-represented in senior management roles, tailing off from general management level. Women and men were
The heartbreak of the New Zealand Wars has been remembered with prayer, song – and a challenge to look past our country’s “bleached” history. Under a threatening sky about 250 people gathered at Kihikihi’s Rewi Maniapoto Reserve on Sunday morning to commemorate the New Zealand Wars. October 28 has been set aside as a national day to commemorate
Appointing a Kiwi Race Relations Commissioner is on hold while an international human rights lawyer sues the Minister of Justice over the selection process. Colin Henry, a Jamaican-born Aucklander, claims the process was unlawful. The former commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy, left in June, after a damning Ministerial review into a sexual harassment scandal, which identified serious “toxic”
Last week, the Human Rights Foundation filed a submission on the proposed amendments to the Crown Minerals Act 1991. These amendments are those intended to give effect to the ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration announced earlier this year. We made two points in our submission, namely that: Climate change is a human
Six women who have sought abortion care and the Abortion Law Reform Association have taken a complaint to the Human Rights Commission alleging abortion laws discriminate against women and pregnant people. ALRANZ’s complaint to the commission on behalf of the women alleges “people who seek abortion care receive different and demonstrably worse treatment than other people seeking health care”,
Distinguished human rights advocate and lawyer Professor Paul Hunt has been appointed as Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced today. Mr Little also announced the appointment of Dr Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo as Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner. Professor Hunt joins the Human Rights Commission from Essex University in Britain, but had previously served
