September 20, 2021
Time wasting reo complaints ruled out
The Human Rights Commission will no longer consider complaints over the use of te reo Māori or the term Pākehā.
The policy is in line with other bodies like the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
Chief executive Rebecca Elvy says the use of te reo does not fit the criteria of discrimination in the Human Rights Act.
Past complaints inaccurately suggested the use of the word Pākehā was derogatory, and that forms and greetings in te reo discriminated against Pākehā.
Te reo Māori is an official language in Aotearoa New Zealand, and all indigenous people also have a fundamental right to self-determination, and the protection of their language, culture, and heritage.
The change came the same day the Hobson’s Pledge group launched a petition against official use of the name “Aotearoa”.
Spokespeople Casey Costello and Don Brash say the name ‘Aotearoa’ is not culturally or historically recognised by Māori as the name of the country, and something as fundamentally important as changing the name of the country must eventually be the subject of a referendum.