A/HRC/26/3 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its eighteenth session from 27 January to 7 February 2014. The review of New Zealand was held at the 1st meeting on 27 January 2014. The delegation of New Zealand was headed by Judith Collins, Minister of Justice, Minister for Ethnic Affairs and Minister for Accident Compensation Corporation. At its 10th meeting, held on 31 January 2014, the Working Group adopted the report on New Zealand. 2. On 15 January 2014, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of New Zealand: Côte d’Ivoire, Japan and the Russian Federation. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to 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.6/18/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.6/18/NZL/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/18/NZL/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to New Zealand through the troika. The questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review (UPR). I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The Minister of Justice and Minister for Ethnic Affairs of New Zealand, Judith Collins, presented the national report. She described New Zealand as a young, ethnically diverse and democratic country in the South Pacific. 6. New Zealand had a robust institutional framework, vital to promoting and protecting human rights, and encouraged strong civil society input. The Bill of Rights Act and the Human Rights Act specifically protected the civil and political rights of its citizens. For the eighth year in a row, New Zealand had ranked first or equal first in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for having the most open and transparent Government and public sector. Whilst priding itself on promoting human rights and equal treatment for all citizens, New Zealand was continually seeking to improve. 7. Addressing an advance question from Germany on the protection of economic, social, and cultural rights, New Zealand confirmed that it recognized the fundamental importance of those rights, which were protected through a variety of legislative mechanisms, including publicly funded education, health care and social assistance. 3