The Human Rights Foundation promotes and defends human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad, through research-based education and advocacy.
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
While we have countries that are busy building walls and strewing their borders with barbed wire, the Government has just agreed to increase its annual refugee to 1500 people starting in 2020. This is a welcome commitment and one that we should celebrate because it represents an important step in recognising our role in responding to
Abstract: Human trafficking is a global issue that has seen increased public awareness in the past 30 years. Depictions of human trafficking in the media and entertainment industry lead to an inaccurate understanding of the nature and extent of this problem. This address discusses some of the myths and inaccurate perceptions that result from these
The Government has announced it will be increasing the refugee quota to 1500 within this term. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said “we need to make sure we have the housing available – that includes social housing.” “We knew we had to do this responsibly.” The increase to 1500 refugees a year will take place from
The Human Rights Foundation’s Deborah Manning, who has advised families of people killed in police pursuits, says Māori may not be getting the same level of discretion as others when police choose to pursue a vehicle. The situation Police figures show Māori make up more than half of people warned or charged following police pursuits.
Amnesty International have launched a petition calling for an investigation into the New Zealand police’s use of private investigators Thomson and Clark: Rochelle Rees is a mother of a seven-year-old, an IT professional that drinks soy lattes and she’s pretty sure the police have been spying on her. Evidence is mounting that over the last decade
For Māori to be enjoying success as Māori, te reo needs to be everywhere and all the time, not just this week. While this Māori Language Week is quite rightly showcasing te reo Māori, there remains a substantial opportunity to increase its use by investing more into te reo Māori education. Despite all the efforts
Former New Zealander of the Year Sir Ray Avery has laid a complaint against Newsroom.co.nz under the Harmful Digital Communications Act over a series of news reports on his background, products and promises. Avery has told Netsafe, the legal agent for considering complaints under the Act, the reports have caused him serious emotional distress and amount to a
