A/HRC/41/4 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-second session from 21 January to 1 February 2019. The review of New Zealand was held at the first meeting, on 21 January 2019. The delegation of New Zealand was headed by the Minister of Justice, Andrew Little. At its 10th meeting, held on 25 January 2019, the Working Group adopted the report on New Zealand. 2. On 15 January 2019, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of New Zealand: Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Slovakia. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of New Zealand: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/32/NZL/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/32/NZL/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/32/NZL/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belarus, Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to New Zealand through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation noted that the national report had been drafted following a nationwide public consultation process to seek views on human rights issues that were important to New Zealanders, with input from many civil society individuals and organizations. 6. New Zealand was a diverse, proudly multicultural Pacific nation, with over 200 ethnic groups and 160 languages. It had specific constitutional relationships with the Cook Islands and Niue, as well as Tokelau, as part of the Realm of New Zealand. 7. New Zealand was strongly committed to sustainable development at home and internationally, and supported the 2030 Agenda. The principles behind the Sustainable Development Goals were embedded in domestic policies. The Goals also provided a framework for the country’s international development cooperation, especially in the Pacific, and for other international engagement. 8. New Zealand had been founded on a partnership between Māori – the tangata whenua (indigenous people) of New Zealand – and the Crown (or Government). The year 1840 had marked the signature of the founding constitutional document, Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi), intended to formalize an enduring partnership between Māori and the Crown. Today, the Treaty was recognized for its constitutional significance and historical and continuing importance. However, the rights of Māori had been largely ignored for generations. 9. The impacts of colonization continued to be felt, through entrenched structural racism and poorer outcomes for Māori. Successive governments had committed to 2