Māori health leader Lady Tureiti Moxon delivers complaint to UN in Geneva
The government has “escalated discrimination against Māori”, health leader Lady Tureiti Moxon has told the UN in Geneva.
Moxon (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Kai Tahu) presented her complaint to the United Nations Committee on Eliminating Racial Discrimination (CERD) in the early hours of Tuesday (NZ time), specifically its five-member working group responsible for the Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure.
CERD has only issued one other specific decision under this procedure for New Zealand – in March 2005, concerning the New Zealand Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.
Under CERD the New Zealand government is required to regularly report on its progress at eliminating racial discrimination and supporting Indigenous peoples, ethnic and religious minority groups to enjoy their rights and freedoms.
We deserve the scrutiny.
- UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD): As part of its regular review, the CERD is examining New Zealand’s record. A formal complaint under the UN’s “early warning and urgent action procedure” was filed by Lady Tureiti Moxon, arguing that government actions violate the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
- Specific Government Actions Cited: The complaint and reports from Māori groups highlight several policy changes since late 2023, including the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority, changes to legislation regarding Māori children in care, efforts to limit the use of te reo Māori, support for a bill on the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and moves to declare that UNDRIP has no binding legal effect.
- Other UN Involvement: The UN’s Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) visited detention facilities to review conditions, noting the disproportionate representation of Māori in the justice system. The UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples has also previously raised concerns about the government’s approach to the Treaty of Waitangi.
We deserve the scrutiny.
United Nations bodies are actively scrutinising New Zealand over its treatment of Māori, following formal complaints and a regular review process in late 2025. The primary concern is the current government’s “systematic rollback” of Māori rights and race-based policies thanks to the redneck fuckwittery of ACT and NZF.
Because Luxon is feckless and weak, he hasn’t been able to control Seymour and Winstons’ anti-Treaty agenda because those issues are crucial culture war ammunition for NZF and ACT.
We deserve the scrutiny.
The disgusting dismissal of Māori interests in water.
The disgusting Treaty Principles Referendum.
The disgusting Regulatory Standards Act that will undermine the Treaty.
The disgusting erasure of the Māori language.
The disgusting attempt to silence Māori voices on local council.
The disgusting way the Treaty is being eliminated in our education system.
We deserve the scrutiny.
It is obvious that the racism of this Government will see no check or balance and we actually require UN oversight because we are incapable of anything other than cementing 19th Century white settler privilege into place as legislation.
We deserve the scrutiny.
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