A member of the Aotearoa Independent Monitoring Mechanism looking at progress on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples wants UN representatives to formally visit this country.
Margaret Mutu says in this year’s report to the UN Human Rights Council, her group was unable to find anything positive to say about the coalition Government’s policies.
It reported work on implementing the declaration had stalled, and the advancement of measures to uphold Māori rights has led to huge backlash.
“And so we’ve asked for a formal visit so the Government can be formally advised by the United Nations. One of the things the New Zealand Government is still very wary of is being embarrased internationally. What they have done to Maori has attracted international attention beyond the United Nations,” Professor Mutu says.
New Zealand First deputy leader says the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigneous Peoples is a voluntary activity which has no legal or constitutional impact in New Zealand.
He says all governments have to make decisions on priorities, and this government’s is addressing New Zealand’s dire economic situation.
“I am a treaty person. I believe the foundation document is called the treaty (of Waitangi), it is indivisible, it is bicultural and it represents an unbreakable sense of nationhood and I have zero confidence in the United Nations ever improving the socioeconomic status or the advancement of hapu and iwi in our country,” Mr Jones says.
