Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Tēnā koutou katoa – Greetings to everyone.
Thank you, Chair. We thank the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for his report.
I acknowledge the Lenape people, on whose Indigenous lands we gather.
The rights of Indigenous Peoples are an international human rights priority for Aotearoa New Zealand. Collective and individual rights and interests of Māori, as indigenous tangata whenua, [people of the land] are recognised, protected, supported, and invested in.
The Government of Aotearoa New Zealand is steadfast in honouring the Treaty of Waitangi, our founding document, and remains committed to the common objectives of the Treaty and UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We remain dedicated to enhancing the participation of indigenous voices at the United Nations. We support Indigenous Peoples’ call to establish a unique category for their participation in the UN system. We do not support those who say Indigenous Peoples should only be included in national delegations. This undermines opportunities to share unique perspectives and shape discussions across the work of the UN. Indigenous Peoples must be able to influence global decision-making through meaningful and inclusive participation in UN processes.
We acknowledge multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination that disproportionately impact the most vulnerable. We must ensure the full, effective and meaningful participation of Indigenous women, Indigenous persons with disabilities and Indigenous LGBTQI+ persons in decision-making on matters in the UN as well as in Aotearoa New Zealand.
A recent review of 2016 Māori Language Act celebrated the momentum that Māori language revitalisation is gaining with greater levels of public awareness and more people speaking te reo Māori [Māori language]. Our partnership approach for revitalisation, established by the Act, recognises that iwi [tribes] and Māori have a leading role in the revitalisation of the Māori language, and that the role of the Government is to create the societal conditions for revitalisation. While the review has found that we have made progress towards our goals, more can be achieved to ensure sustained growth of a strong, healthy, thriving te reo Māori [Māori language]. We are currently implementing the recommendations from the Review through amendments to the Act, and other policy adjustments.
We continue to support all countries in their vision to preserve, revitalise, and promote Indigenous languages, and recognize the importance of Indigenous languages as a driver for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We remain strongly committed to the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. The Government is dedicated to working with Māori on economic, environmental, and social policy issues over which the SDGs provide a frame of reference for domestic policy development.
We welcome Special Rapporteur’s report on the theme “Tourism and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”. The New Zealand-Aotearoa Government Tourism Strategy drives productive, sustainable, and inclusive tourism growth noting the Government’s role ensuring meaningful engagement with Māori through New Zealand Māori Tourism. This independent incorporated society promotes and helps Māori tourism sector lead visitor experience and build leadership, commercial and cultural skills of Māori. Operating under the whakatauki [Māori proverb], He Toa Takitini, the organisation recognises ‘Strength is in Unity’ and the significant relationships between Māori tourism operators, Government departments, business associations, and iwi [tribes], hapū [sub-tribes], and whānau [families].
CEDAW Recommendation 39 outlines the leading role of Indigenous women and girls in climate adaptation, mitigation, and global movements to improve planetary health. We call on all States to work collaboratively with Indigenous peoples, including women and girls, to address the impact of climate change in a sustainable way, ensuring no one is left behind.
Indigenous Peoples’ traditional and ancestral knowledge as well as the scientific and technical knowledge should be a proactive part of preparations and responses to the impacts of climate change. Through recent significant weather events in Aotearoa New Zealand, we understand the benefit of Indigenous-led, nationally supported solutions. Māori values of kaitiakitanga [guardianship], manaakitanga [generosity and care] and whanaungatanga [connectedness] are central to the intergenerational Māori approach to safeguarding the environment. Working in partnership and strengthening self-determination for Māori will better enable us to tackle global challenges.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou – Many thanks to you all.