Human Rights and The Treaty of Waitangi

1. Human Rights and The Treaty of Waitangi What do New Zealanders know or care about either of them? Slide

2. What Did We Know or Care About a Decade Ago? Introduction In 1988 and 1989 research (Heylen Research Centre), was conducted to find out' • how people felt about the new government policy to mainstream Maori Affairs (June 1988), • European attitudes towards Maori (March 1988) and • how to focus the 'New Zealand 1990' campaign (September 1989) Slide

3. Some of the issues that came out of the research included: • Maori culture as an essential part of being a New Zealander (General Public 47% yes, 32% no. Maori 65% yes, 12% no). • Compensation for land lost (22% yes, 48% no. Maori 69% yes, 9% no). • Claims will threaten racial harmony (67% yes, 16% no. Maori 60% yes, 24% no), and Slide

4. The Research Showed that: • New Zealanders are clearly polarised on Treaty issues, • High levels of awareness of the Treaty but low levels of knowledge, • Maori were as diverse in their views about the Treaty as non-Maori. • To change public perceptions about the Treaty would be difficult Slide

5. So how have we progressed over the past decade? Our research, which was carried out from September to December, 2002, focuses on the human rights dimensions of the Treaty of Waitangi. Slide

6. Why Is the Human Rights Commission Involved? • To advocate and promote respect for, and an understanding and appreciation of, human rights in NZ society; and • To encourage the maintenance and development of harmonious relations between individuals and among the diverse groups in NZ society Slide

7. Mandate • "Promote by research, education and discussion a better understanding of the human rights dimension of the Treaty of Waitangi and their relationship with domestic and international human rights law" • “To develop a national plan of action, in consultation with interested parties, for the promotion and protection of human rights in NZ” Slide

8. Methodology • UMR nationwide survey • UMR focus groups • HRC Infoline • Media reports • Published research (e.g. NZ Study of Values) • Maori focus group • Maori included in survey • Maori media surveyed Slide

9. What do we know about human rights? General Public • Low levels of knowledge (28% a lot, 39% very little • Generally informed by media and word of mouth • Associate human rights with freedom of expression, access to public places, education, employment, health • Want improved performance in children's rights and housing (Continued)>> Slide

10. What do we know about human rights? (Continued) • Human rights are important (80% yes, 7% no) Slide

11. What do we know about human rights? Maori • Similar levels of knowledge (31% a lot, 39% very little) • Children's rights and Maori education key concerns Slide

12. How do we feel about Human Rights? General Public • They apply overseas rather than NZ (Aboriginals, wars, Third World countries) • Housing and education are major human rights issues • Maori men, elderly and people from different cultures are most vulnerable • Sense of fairness prevalent (justice, ethics, equality, fair treatment) • NZ performance rated average to good! Slide

13. How do we feel about Human Rights? Maori • NZ performance in human rights needs to improve • Language, culture and education are major issues Slide

14. What do we know about the Treaty of Waitangi? General Public • Low levels of declared knowledge of Treaty (36% reasonable, 29% little) • Little awareness of Treaty rights • Little knowledge about colonisation • Diverse range of understanding • Media main source of information Slide

15. What do we know about the Treaty of Waitangi? Maori • Higher levels of declared knowledge (54% reasonable, 20% little) • Rangatiratanga/self determination not well understood or articulated Slide

16. How do we feel about the Treaty of Waitangi? General Public •  A need for Treaty education (Pakeha/Europeans would benefit) • Highly sensitive issue • Tired of Treaty in the media Slide

17. How do we feel about the Treaty of Waitangi? Maori • Unlikely to discuss with others • Treaty education essential • Tikanga and reo are important Slide

18. Sample of Issues • Diversity amongst the general public and Maori • Polarisation of Maori and non Maori and within both • Lack of common ground (21% some, 40% little) • Some suspicion and concerns • UDHR more important than Treaty (51% versus 19%) • Maori view Treaty as more important (37% versus 31%) Slide

19. Sample of Issues (Continued) • Colonisation • Indigenous rights • Affirmative Action • Sovereignty • Tino Rangatiratanga • Support for improving knowledge of human rights and the Treaty • To change public perceptions of the Treaty will be difficult Slide

20. Issues for the HRC • A lack of knowledge of both the Treaty of Waitangi and human rights issues limits widespread discussion on these topics. • New Zealanders struggle to identify any significant common ground between the Treaty of Waitangi and human rights law. Slide

21. Issues for HRC (Continued) • New Zealanders are increasingly tired of the number of references to the Treaty of Waitangi in the public arena, which affects their willingness to discuss the issues in-depth. Slide

22. HRC Strategy • Provide information • Build relationships • Facilitate dialogue • Monitor and evaluate • Include a Treaty of Waitangi strategy in the national plan of action for human rights Slide