Progress Continues

The New Zealand Government’s recent endorsement of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been welcomed by UN indigenous human rights expert Professor James Anaya, who says good progress is being made with Treaty of Waitangi settlements. “The Treaty settlement process is clearly one of the most important examples in the world of an effort to address historical and ongoing grievances of indigenous peoples, and that settlements already achieved have provided significant benefits in several cases,” Professor Anaya says. However, Anaya has also raised concerns about the social and economic disadvantages faced by Maori. He is particularly concerned by the high number of Maori in jail. Anaya says this results from the historical and continuing denial of their human rights, which must continue to be addressed as an urgent priority.