KEY POINTS:
A landmark document on race relations hopes to find common ground among New Zealanders.
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres announced the draft statement yesterday at the Diversity Forum in Auckland.
Mr de Bres expected some parts of the statement would provoke discussion, such as the draft's definition of rangatiratanga as "a guarantee of Maori indigenous rights".
He said the statement built on the experience of the religious diversity statement first floated at last year's Diversity Forum. The latter had been sparked in part by attacks on historic headstones on Jewish graves in a Wellington cemetery and attacks on Auckland mosques following the London bombings of 2005.
"These statements seek to identify and express some core matters that we can agree on, in a brief statement in simple language. They also provide a checklist of issues against which we can measure the state of race relations," said Mr de Bres.
These include the Treaty, freedom from discrimination, freedom of expression, safety, social inclusion, access and opportunity, settlement, education, cultural diversity and respect for the rights of others.
"The purpose of the statement is to find common ground," he said.
Dr Manuka Henare, from Auckland University's Business School, described the document as a "starter of a whole series of conversations".
Mr de Bres said that the draft statement was only a starting point, not a finished product.
People have until the end of the year to provide feedback, and the draft would then be revised in time for public discussion on Race Relations Day in March next year.
A final version of the statement is hoped to be ready for next year's Diversity Forum in August.
KEY EXCERPTS
* The foundations for racial equality in New Zealand were laid at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 between representatives of Maori and the Crown. The Treaty provided for kawanatanga - a unified government; rangatiratanga - a guarantee of Maori indigenous rights; and rite tahi - equality before the law.
* The Treaty was breached by subsequent governments, and the process of acknowledging these wrongs, and negotiating redress, continues. The Treaty relationship between government and Maori today requires engagement for the active protection of indigenous rights, language, culture, lands and resources, enabling Maori to live as Maori.
* Freedom of expression: People are free to speak their mind, but not to incite racial hostility. People of diverse ethnicities, cultures and beliefs are entitled to be represented and given voice in the media in an accurate, balanced and fair manner.
* Settlement: Migrants have the same rights as other New Zealanders, with few exceptions. New migrants and refugees are entitled to support to settle and integrate successfully.
