Race Relations in 2008

This is the fifth annual review of race relations in New Zealand. Its purpose is to record the major events, issues and developments of the past year and, on the basis of the available evidence, to identify issues that need to be addressed to maintain and enhance positive race relations in the year ahead. The shape of the report varies from year to year, depending on events. This year, there is more on the Treaty of Waitangi (the Treaty), discrimination and human rights, and less on migration, arts and culture, settlement, language, media and religious diversity. That is because one of the outstanding developments of the last year was the extent and pace of Treaty settlements and other Treaty related matters, which therefore occupy more space. Similarly, the human rights chapter deals with some key issues in policing, the criminal justice system, employment and education. Discrimination, harassment and race-hate crime, particularly as they affect Asian New Zealanders, also receive more attention.