The Human Rights Foundation promotes and defends human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad, through research-based education and advocacy.
A police officer who flung a man in custody against a wall, causing him to hit his head and knock him unconscious, has been found by the Independent Police Conduct Authority to have used excessive force. The incident occurred when an officer, named only as Custody Officer D, attempted to restrain an intoxicated man at
So, New Zealand is pulling out of its military role at Camp Taji in Iraq, where in partnership with the Australians, we currently provide about a quarter of the personnel engaged in a programme that trains Iraqi soldiers. (The Australians currently have about 300 troops stationed at Taji.) Our presence will reduce in stages from the
Māori have got the message across to an independent review group that racism is embedded in every part of the criminal justice system and a Māori-led ‘total rethink’ is required. The independent Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group released its interim He Waka Roimata (A Vessel of Tears) report today, in which it says Māori they have spoken to have
New Zealand’s housing crisis has been labelled a “human rights crisis” by the Human Rights Commissioner. It comes as an international report finds New Zealand is also not meeting its requirements when it comes to Māori, the disabled and prisoners. “It’s extremely embarrassing, New Zealand has a housing crisis, it also has a human rights
The minister responsible for New Zealand’s spy agencies says it’s “surprising” the country doesn’t have a strategy to prevent terrorist attacks. But Andrew Little maintains the country’s intelligence systems are effective. “We like to think we have a counter-terrorism means, the ability to respond to something. But we don’t have a strategy that anticipates and
Land alienation and confiscation from King Country Māori caused “serious damage” to the mana of iwi with impacts still felt today, the Waitangi Tribunal reports. The tribunal has released the third part of Te Mana Whatu Ahuru: Report on Te Rohe Pōtae Claims, over alleged Crown breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. The claim covered
Concerns have been raised about a “power imbalance” between government agencies and community groups involved in a top-level inquiry into the Christchurch mosque shootings. The Islamic Women’s Council is meeting with the Royal Commission to discuss what it deems a lack of support through the process. The commission began hearing evidence on May 13 – including from government departments and
Green Party co-leader James Shaw objects to the Government’s decision to put $25 million into stopping boat people reaching New Zealand. Budget 2019, unveiled today, includes $23.6 million in operating costs as well as $1.4 million in capital expenditure to boost New Zealand’s capability to stop boat people. Budget documents show that it is for
A human rights lawyer says the government has continuously let the Muslim community down and she doesn’t see that changing even with the Royal Commission into the mosque shootings. A public discussion in Auckland’s suburb of Ōtara yesterday saw academics, a lawyer and representatives of the Muslim community come together to discuss security issues after
A recent Dominion Post column attacked British-born Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt as not ‘one of us’. It’s a phrase we should all feel uncomfortable with, writes Hunt, wherever we come from. Not long after I took up office as Chief Human Rights Commissioner, a newspaper columnist complained that I am not “one of
