Diversity Action 2011

Joris de BresRace Relations CommissionerNZ Diversity ForumHamilton, August 2011

Diversity Action Programme 2011Goals:

recognise and celebrate the cultural diversity of our society

promote equal enjoyment by everyone of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, regardless of race, colour, religion, ethnicity, or national origin

foster harmonious relations between diverse peoples

give effect to the Treaty of Waitangi

225 participating organisations149 community

sector59 public sector10 private sector7 iwi

654 diversity projects

Race Relations Report 2011Published in MarchTen priorities for action:Children, structural

discrimination, unemployment, imprisonment, Maori representation, Auckland transition, Immigration Act, language, CERD report, human rights action plan

1. Children protecting children

who are vulnerable to abuse from harm and ensuring that all New Zealand children equally enjoy the right to education, good health, housing and freedom from poverty

Forum todayGreen paper for

vulnerable childrenChildren’s action plan?

“Too many children are being hurt, abused, neglected and badly let down but we can change this and now is the time to act” – Paula Bennett

2. Structural discrimination identifying and

working to remove any structural or institutional barriers to racial equality in the enjoyment of civil, political, social and economic rights

Research and discussions with government agencies

Discussion paper developed for this forum

Community consultation and further research

Revised discussion paper to be published by April 2012

3. Unemployment

reducing the high rate of unemployment of Māori and Pacific peoples, and particularly of young people

June 2010 - June 2011

All 6.8 6.5Euro 4.4 4.7Maori 16.4 13.7Pacific 14.1 13.1Asian 10.5 6.1MELAA 9.0 12.1Youth 18.2 17.4Maori 30.3 24.8Pacific 30.6 27.4

4. Imprisonment

reducing the number of people in our prisons and the disproportionate number of them who are Māori

ImprisonmentSeptember 2010

5. Māori representation

making better provision for Māori representation in local government in this year’s representation reviews

Approach to all Mayors in March

A number of councils discuss issue

Approach to all local government CEOs in July

Forum todayDeadline 23

NovemberConstitutional review

6. Auckland Council ensuring that the

transitional arrangements of the Auckland Council to provide for cultural diversity, inclusion and responsive services for diverse communities are confirmed and enhanced

Mayoral leadershipMāori, Pacific and

ethnic boards appointed

Major diversity events recognised

CCO and local boards?

Community contracts expire next year?

Forum today

7. Immigration Act

monitoring the impact of the new Immigration Act 2009 on migrants and refugees

Roundtable held in June

Implementation generally going well

Issues:Tribunal backlogShortage of refugee

specialist lawyersAccess to educationExclusion for

disability

8. Languages renewing efforts to

provide for the learning and use of te reo Māori, Pacific Island and other community languages

Waitangi tribunal reportTe Reo Māoriora reportKohanga reo claimPacific languages

strategy (forum today)Canterbury

earthquakes highlight need for use of translators and interpreters (forums today)

Language weeks

9. CERD report promoting public

discussion and input into New Zealand’s 2010 report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Delay in process sought

Draft government report for public consultation

Forum yesterdayFinal report now due

February 2012Shadow reports invitedHearing in Geneva in

August?

10. Human rights action plan agreeing on actions

by the public and private sectors and communities to implement the priority areas identified in the Human Rights Commission’s 2010 review of human rights.

Thirty priorities identified

Forum held yesterdaySeparate plans

proposed for government, community sector and Human Rights Commission

Target for completion

ScorecardChildrenStructural DiscriminationUnemploymentImprisonmentMāori representationAuckland CouncilImmigration ActLanguagesCERD reportHuman rights action plan

Current issuesAre the boat people coming?Bigotry on the internetChristchurch earthquake recovery –

communication with diverse communitiesMāori privilege or Maori disadvantage?Racial inequalities

The changing face of New ZealandSchool enrolments

2010Northern region

School enrolments 2010

Southern region

The changing face of New Zealand

Race Relations Day 2012

A fair go for all

Rite tahi tatou katoa