Statement to the UN Commission on Human Rights Working Group for the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 9 – 16 December 2005, Geneva.

 

We the peoples, tangata whenua, Maori of Aotearoa / New Zealand recognize the Working Group on the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as member states of the United Nations, representatives of indigenous peoples organizations (IPO’s), non-government organizations (NGO’s), civil society and non-state actors.

 

We express our deepest regret for the lack of representation from Indigenous Peoples organizations of Aotearoa/NZ but respectfully ask that the Chair of the Working Group accept and table our statement for the record.

 

We express strong disappointment that NZ government delegates contributions to the Working Group is undermining the efforts of IPO’s who have worked for over a decade on dDRIP and state that the views of the Crown are not shared by Maori in Aotearoa.

 

We express great shame that the lobbying and statements of NZ government representatives threatens the Mauri (life-force) of the draft Declaration – the right of self-determination / tino rangatiratanga. 

 

We apologize to our indigenous brothers and sisters participating at the working group for any hurt and harm caused by the Crown’s statements and actions.

 

We observe the Crown’s position and lobbying as using international human rights mechanisms to undermine and rewrite its relationship with Maori at a domestic level.  Furthermore the Crown acts in a highly undemocratic way by articulating these views without dialogue with tangata whenua / Maori.

 

We appeal to the Chair of the Working Group and IPO’s to call on the NZ government and its delegates to withdraw their statements and return to Aotearoa/NZ to engage with tangata whenua / Maori for the purpose of achieving consultation on the dDRIP.

 

We pledge to engage in regular dialogue with the Crown for the purpose of achieving consultation on dDRIP, in particular Article 3 the right of self-determination.

 

We acknowledge the leadership and role of the UN’s Permanent Forum and affirm the paper presented by Victoria Tauli Corpuz at the UNESCO and Indigenous Cultures Conference in Norway 2004 (Chair of Permanent Forum 2005):

 

“Whilst the UN is mainly an organization of nation states it should not be forgotten that the UN Charter speaks of ‘We the People’.  For Indigenous Peoples the UN is still the body, which should protect the basic rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples.  The right of self-determination, which is one of our inherent rights, is not a right of states but a right of peoples.”

 

END. 15 December 2005

List of Parties to Statement

Maire Kipa - Aotearoa

Karen Mills - Aotearoa

Terehia Kipa - Aotearoa

Aroha Mead - Aotearoa

Katrina Taupo - Aotearoa

Potaua Biasiny-Tule - Aotearoa

Anaru Fraser on behalf of Te Rau Aroha and International Indian Treaty Council

 

This statement is being circulated widely across Aotearoa and there are still names to be added to the list. 

 

As the last day of the working group session draws near this statement is offered to AILA representative Kent Lebsock to submit on our behalf.  A more full list of names and organisations will be added on Friday morning.