Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Indigenous People to Visit New Zealand

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14 November 2005

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, will visit New Zealand from 16 to 26 November 2005 at the invitation of the Government.

Through this visit, Mr. Stavenhagen aims to gain a better understanding of the situation of indigenous peoples in New Zealand. The Special Rapporteur, along with relevant parties in the country, will be focusing particular attention on issues such as treaty settlements; the developments concerning the implementation of the Foreshore and Seabed Act and economic, social and cultural rights in general, including the provision of basic social services such as education, housing and health care. He is also interested in learning about indigenous access to land and exploitation of natural resources, as well as issues relating to political representation of indigenous communities.

The Special Rapporteur will focus in particular on the situation of Maori women as well as on the challenges Maori children and youth face in such areas as higher education, employment and health. In addition, the Special Rapporteur will seek to learn about provisions for access to sacred sites and the question of management of intellectual property rights by indigenous communities.

The Special Rapporteur is expected to hold talks with indigenous representatives in Taupo, New Plymouth, Blenheim, Christchurch, Auckland, Hauraki and Rotorua.

Mr. Stavenhagen is scheduled to meet in the capital Wellington with authorities of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Maori Affairs, Justice, Economic Development, Health, Housing and Education, and of the Office of the Treaty Settlements, among others.

In Wellington Mr. Stavenhagen will also meet with officials of the Waitangi Tribunal, the Maori Land Court, the Human Rights Commission and representatives of indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations and members of academia.

The Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference on Friday 25 November. His findings and recommendations will be presented to the sixty-second session of the Commission on Human Rights in April 2006.

For further information, please contact the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva, tel: +41 22 917 92 42.