The National Conversation is about fairness at work. Two years ago the Human Rights Commission undertook to engage in a nation-wide series of engagements to listen to employers, employees, organisations, businesses and community groups about what would make a difference for employees to achieve greater equality and fairness at work and how this might impact on their families. The Commission also hopes to assist employers to implement good employer practices including EEO by learning what needs they have and what their current employment issues are. As well as face to face meetings, participants could engage in the project electronically through a dedicated website or by writing to us. An introductory video clip featuring thirteen New Zealanders talking about their working lives was produced to introduce the project online and as a conversation starter at meetings.
The Human Rights Commission has talked to more than three thousand people all over New Zealand. We have talked to people about work from Kaitaia to Bluff. From East Cape to Hokitika. We have talked to people who work up mountains, down in mines, at sea, on land and in the air. We have talked to school students who work before and after school and in holidays and to “retired” people who work unpaid for their families and for the community. We have talked to people who want to work but cannot get employment. We have talked to employers from large companies, employers in small to medium-sized businesses, family businesses, and the self-employed. We met employees, employers, community groups and unions. We met people in board rooms, smoko rooms, community halls, offices, on marae, around kitchen tables in cafes, classrooms and hotel lobbies.
The first conversations were held in November 2008 and the last in May 2010. During that time the global economic crisis changed the employment market and questions about the effects of the recession were included in our conversations from the time of labour market change.
We visited each of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, and for each a regional report was compiled and published on-line on the NEON website. In each region we approached local government and, in particular, economic development agencies to advise us on key businesses and industries in the region. We wrote to Members of Parliament about the project to inform them of regional visits and to seek business and community contacts. We attempted to cover as wide a range of population groups as we could, especially those who we knew to be disadvantaged at work, such as migrant groups and the people with disabilities. We were keen to meet groups who were working in non-traditional fields. In many regions we sought meetings with successful Māori businesses.