UN issues NZ 155 human rights tasks

United Nations member nations have commended New Zealand's human rights record but issued 155 recommendations for improvement.

Maori men perform a haka

The UN has issued New Zealand more than 150 recommendations to improve its human rights record. (AAP)

The international community has issued New Zealand more than 150 recommendations to improve its human rights record.

The recommendations, which come out of a United Nations meeting in Geneva, involve signing international conventions, reducing child poverty, minimising disparity between Maori and other New Zealanders and improving woman's rights.

However, many of the 193 member nations congratulated New Zealand on its human rights record and progress already made.

Earlier this week, Justice Minister Judith Collins presented the country's report for the Universal Periodic Review on human rights.

All UN member countries are required to report on their human rights performance every four-and-a-half years.

The government described New Zealand as having a "proud tradition of promoting and protecting human rights at home and overseas".

The New Zealand delegation was required to answer a number of questions from member nations who considered New Zealand's progress before posing recommendations.

The 155 recommendations by individual member nations, listed in a draft report released on Saturday, have been presented back to New Zealand.

Ms Collins said the reception New Zealand received in Geneva was "fantastic".

"The rate of family violence in New Zealand is unacceptable but I'm pleased the Human Rights Council recognises the investment this government is already making to better support and protect victims of domestic violence," she said.

But the Green Party says the recommendations are "embarrassing" and show New Zealand has lost ground on protecting woman and children.

On Tuesday, the Law Society criticised Ms Collins' national report for omitting "significant human rights issues in the New Zealand context".

The society says the parliament's use of urgency to push through laws and enactment of Bill of Rights-inconsistent legislation are key human rights issues.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson hit back at the Law Society, saying the use of urgency is not a human rights issue and the comments show a "wilful ignorance of the facts".


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Source: AAP


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