The Green Party will strengthen our commitment to and action for human rights, and celebrate diversity. We will integrate and implement the rights of tangata whenua under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and of all people under international human rights agreements. We will actively combat systemic racism and other forms of oppression that undermine human rights.
Vision
Everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand is equitably included and respected, and feels like they belong.
Values and Principles
Decisions relating to human rights must uphold the following values and principles:
- Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi: The rights of tangata whenua, as affirmed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and set out in our human rights legislation, are recognised as indigenous sovereignty both nationally and internationally, and are critical to the human rights framework of Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Ecological Wisdom: Human rights must be balanced with a responsibility to address the rights of the natural world and future generations. Access to a healthy environment is a fundamental human right.
- Social Responsibility: Human rights include social, environmental, cultural and economic rights as well as equality, freedom and civil liberties.
- Appropriate Decision-Making: Human rights, tikanga Māori and democracy are interwoven: each requires the other for the whole to function well.
- Non-Violence: Diversity should be celebrated. Everyone should live free from discrimination on the basis of nationality, ethnic origin, religion, political beliefs, gender, gender identification, sexuality, sex characteristics, marital status, family and reproductive status, age, ability, or socio-economic status.
- International Cooperation: Aotearoa New Zealand has a responsibility to use, within our ecological limits, our wealth and privilege to support the human rights of other peoples and nations.
Strategic Priorities
The Green Party’s strategic goals include:
“As a Party we strive to create a more connected, compassionate and equal Aotearoa, free from structural biases that discriminate against groups and individuals.”
Actions in this policy that will help achieve this include:
- Ensure that our human rights legislation and practices are in accord with our international obligations, including UNDRIP, with the aim of eliminating all forms of discrimination. (1.1)
- Amend all human rights legislation to ensure it upholds the rights of tangata whenua under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and that the Government is bound by and held accountable to such legislation. (1.2)
- Support and resource the Human Rights Commission to implement human rights legislation and counter prejudice and discrimination of all kinds. (2.1)
Connected Policies
All Green Party policies apply the concept of human rights, including upholding the right of tangata whenua under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Our Workforce Policy upholds the rights of workers. Our Immigration Policy upholds the rights of refugees and migrants. Our Justice Policy upholds the rights of detainees. Our Disability policy upholds the rights of disabled people. Other policies uphold the rights of Children, Women, the Rainbow community, and Tagata Moana. Our policy treats access to Housing and Health as human rights, and upholds the right to a healthy environment through Environmental Protection.
