56834 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister of Justice

56834 (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) 'about the misrepresentation of affirmative action to address structural discrimination as “racial privilege” and “at odds with universal human rights” by some political and public figures.' 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.