11. Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Māori Party) Link to this
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
What is the process that the Government undertakes to respond to the inquiry from the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights while countering terrorism, an inquiry which is related to the Government’s conduct during the 15 October 2007 raids?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs) Link to this
The process is already complete. The request was received on 3 December 2007. The Government responded on 30 January.
What complaints have been received from the United Nations about the violations of human rights arising from the conduct of the police, politicians, and media?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
That question is so broad that I am afraid I could not possibly give an answer—it gives neither a time frame nor the nature of the inquiries. I would note, in terms of requests from the special rapporteurs, that in the last year for which we have information, 2006, more than 1,100 such requests were made of 143 countries.
In responding to the United Nations special rapporteur, will the Minister be endorsing the behaviour of police during the raids on Tūhoe families, including reported actions such as holding loaded rifles to the heads of young girls?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
What the Government will do, and has done, is explain the nature of police operational independence in New Zealand. This probably will come as a surprise to some of the countries represented on the United Nations Human Rights Council, where no such operational independence occurs. In some of those countries the police probably issue the orders to the Government rather than the other way round.
Will the Minister be reconsidering New Zealand’s stand to oppose the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, given that the foreign affairs Minister of the new Australian Labor Government is consulting stakeholders with a view to reversing Australia’s opposition to the declaration; if not, why not?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
We have no such plans at present, as I have explained to the House before. A large number of the countries that voted for that declaration have no, what one might call, indigenous peoples—a term, of course, that has no meaning in a country, say, like the United Kingdom. Some of those countries that voted for the declaration made it quite clear they had no intention of implementing it should any issues arise. The countries that voted against the declaration shared two features: first, they have indigenous populations, and, second, they carry out obligations when they sign up to them.