MNZ Submission to the United Nations Committee 

New Zealand race relations will be under the microscope in Geneva this week when the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination examines New Zealand’s performance. The examination takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday 15-16 August. Representatives of a number of government departments will be in attendance.

The Committee will receive a report from the New Zealand Government and the Race Relations Commissioner, and consider submissions from non-Government organisations.
Multicultural New Zealand, the Federation of Multicultural Councils, has made a submission which asks the UN Committee to recommend that the New Zealand government undertake a comprehensive programme to eliminate institutional racism, including the unequal representation of Māori, Pasifika and ethnic peoples in government and public services.

Other priorities include the development of a national languages policy and community languages framework, the appointment of more labour inspectors to address exploitation of temporary migrant workers and international students, the implementation of the recommendations of the recent Constitutional Review, and financial support for community organisations promoting cultural diversity and migrant settlement.

The organisation, which represents 57 local multicultural councils and newcomers’ networks around New Zealand, also calls for greater government financial support for community organisations promoting cultural diversity and migrant settlement.

The retention of the position of Race Relations Commissioner, as recommended by the UN Committee in its previous report, is welcomed by Multicultural New Zealand, but it notes that another of the Committee’s recommendations, for the development of a new National Action Plan for Human Rights and Race Relations, has yet to be implemented properly.

Read the whole submission here.