Human Rights Commission
New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights
Race Relations Sector Advisory Group
Process for appointment, terms of reference and recommended
members
Introduction
The Race Relations Sector Advisory Group will primarily be a group of
experts who can advise the NZAP project. The group will be selected by
the HRC.
A wide range of organisations put forward nominations to the Human
Rights Commission for membership of the overseeing National Advisory
Committee (NAC) to the project. It has taken a considerable period of
time to confirm the NAC membership.
In inviting nominations, the Human Rights Commission said that if
nominees were not appointed to the NAC they would be considered for
any relevant Sector Advisory Group s to the NZAP. A number of
members of the NAC will have expertise on race relations issues, these
people might include (but are not limited to)
Information withheld under s 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(ba)
Two other Sector Advisory Groups will be established as part of the
NZAP: one focused on children’s rights, the other on issues concerning
disability. These two groups will liaise and work with the Race Relations
Sector Advisory Group.
Appointing a Race Relations Sector Advisory Group
Consideration needs to first be given to the nominees who were
unsuccessful in being appointed to the NAC. Where gaps have been
identified in the balance of the proposed Sector Advisory Group people
other than those identified through the public nomination process may
be added. We need to ensure coverage is provided through the Race
Relations Sector Advisory Group of key issues and attributes. The group
is primarily a group of experts who will assist in guiding the work
programme and draw on their networks and expertise on race relations
issues. It will be important to ensure a good level of involvement of
Pakeha, Maori and other ethnic groups to assist particularly with
Information in footnotes out of scope of request.
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communicating and discussing race relations issues within various
cultural contexts. It will also be important to involve public sector
representation on the group to reflect the NZAP partnership approach, to
link in with work they may be doing, and get broad engagement.
The NZAPHR project manager has consulted with the Race Relations
Commissioner and the Race and Ethnic Relations Team in developing
this paper and the accompanying recommendations.
Listed below are the desirable areas of expertise, the nominees for the
NAC who should be considered for representation on Race Relations
Sector Advisory Group and an assessment of the gaps/desirable
strengths that may not be covered in the nominees group. A list of other
potential candidates is also included.
1. Desirable attributes, skills, expertise and issues of balance
Perspectives of:
Pakeha
Maori
Pacific
Asian
Expertise in:
Academic/research
Social policy
Practical implementation
Local government/community experience
Media
Knowledge/expertise in race relations issues concerning:
Treaty of Waitangi
Cultural diversity
Racial discrimination
Religion
Media
Immigration
Special measures to ensure equality
And generally issues such as: health, employment, education,
housing
As a group consider:
Geographical spread
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Connection with broad networks
Information withheld under s 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(ba).
Human Rights Commission
Information withheld under s9(2)(a) and 9(2)(ba)
3. Gaps
Pakeha (women/business)
Pacific (one more)
Media
Chinese
African
Muslim
Public sector
4. Other possible nominees to meet gaps:
Administrative and financial arrangements
The HRC would be responsible for administrative and financial
arrangements. To clarify the expectations of what this covers, the key
aspects of this are listed below:
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• NZAP team will organise travel and all other arrangements for Race
Relations Sector Advisory Group ,
• NZAP project will meet costs associated with Race Relations Sector
Advisory Group (including meeting fees),
• HRC will chair the Race Relations Sector Advisory Group , preferably
either the Race Relations Commissioner or someone from the RERT
team
Draft Terms of Reference
The role of the Race Relations Sector Advisory Group to Mana ki te
Tangata – New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights (NZAP) is to:
i.
Assist the Human Rights Commission (the Commission) to
engage widespread participation by a diverse range of ethnic
communities in the process to develop the NZAP;
ii.
Review and provide feedback on discussion documents
developed by the Commission, particularly in relation to race
relations;
iii.
Review baseline data collected by the Commission on the
current status of human rights in New Zealand, and on the basis
of that data to;
a. Make recommendations to the Commission and the National
Advisory Council identifying the race relations issues in
which, in the opinion of the RRSAG, New Zealand could
improve its human rights performance;
b. Make recommendations to the Commission and the National
Advisory Council for strategies to enhance race relations in
New Zealand for inclusion in the NZAP; and
iv.
Make
recommendations
to
the
Commission
for
the
implementation, monitoring and review of the NZAP.
In developing its recommendations the RRSAG must refer to the
provisions of international and domestic human rights law and of the
Treaty of Waitangi.
The Human Rights Commission will be responsible for:
i.
Providing the RRSAG with discussion documents on human
rights issues and baseline data about the current status of
human rights in New Zealand;
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ii.
Arranging meetings of the RRSAG and providing the necessary
administrative support to enable RRSAG members to participate
in those meetings;
iii.
Meeting travel and other reasonable costs associated with
attending RRSAG meetings and paying a meeting fee to RRSAG
members;
iv.
Enabling liaison between the RRSAG, and the National Advisory
Council;
v.
Developing and implementing a public participation process to
ensure widespread public involvement in the development of the
NZAP;
vi.
Developing and implementing a communications programme to
support the development of the NZAP;
vii.
Writing the NZAP.
Terms of Reference for officials on the RRSAG
The role of officials representing Government departments on the
RRSAG will be to:
i.
Advise the RRSAG about relevant work being done in the public
sector;
ii.
Assist in identifying and discussing issues associated with the
development of the NZAP;
iii.
Assist with developing options for consideration by the RRSAG
and the Commission; and
iv.
Provide liaison with the NZAP Government Liaison Committee.
Officials will not determine the content of the NZAP or make
commitments on behalf of government.
Proposed timeline
Action
By
1.
Invitations to selected members
Mid-July 2003
2.
Confirm membership and mail out materials for
Human Rights Commission
first meeting.
3.
First meeting
August 2003
1. Confirm Terms of advisory
2. Meeting formats and schedule for year ahead
3. HRC participatory proposal
4.
Mail out material for comment
August
• HRC discussion document drafts
• Involvement/consultation plan and resources
5.
Second meeting
October 2003
• To review discussion documents
• To review involvement/consultation process
• To consider consultation plan for Phases 3-5
6.
Third meeting
March 2004
• To review "status report"
• To evaluate Phase 2
7.
Fourth meeting
July 2004
• To review findings from broad consultation and
emerging priorities for race relations
8.
Fifth meeting
October 2004
• To review draft NZAP
• To review communications and implementation
plans
Recommendations
It is recommended that the Commission:
8. Agree that a maximum of 10 members (not including officials) are
identified for the Race Relations Sector Advisory Group. Note that
consideration will first be given to NAC nominees to reflect the
undertaking made to them and the nominating groups.
9. Agree that the following nominees to the NAC be invited to join the
Race Relations Sector Advisory Group :
Information withheld under 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(ba)
Human Rights Commission
Information withheld under 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(ba)
10.
Agree that the Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
and the Office of Ethnic Affairs are invited to be represented on the
Race Relations Sector Advisory Group .
11.
Select three of the following people be considered for invitation on
to the Race Relations Sector Advisory Group in order to fill gaps in
experience/skills:
12.
Agree that:
• the NZAP team will organise travel and all other
administrative arrangements for the Race Relations Sector
Advisory Group,
• the NZAP team will meet costs associated with Race
Relations Sector Advisory Group (including meeting fees),
and
• The Race Relations Commissioner, supported by the RERT,
will chair and facilitate the substantive work of the Race
Relations Sector Advisory Group.
13.
Agree that the draft terms of reference (above) are provided to
those invited to participate on the Race Relations Advisory Group
