56673 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister of Justice

56673 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister of Justice: Does the Minister share the concerns of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) that 'The removal of dedicated Māori wards and constituencies in 24 local councils following the decision to subject Māori political rights to local referendums in 2025, thereby limiting Māori participation in local governance and decision-making processes' and if so why and if not why not?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: As the Minister of Justice, I led the New Zealand delegation to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on 25 and 26 November 2025. The Member is quoting various statements from the “Concluding observations on the twenty-third and twenty-fourth periodic reports of New Zealand” which was issued by CERD on 5 December 2025. The Government is considering the concluding observations and will respond in due course.