Story: Multilateral organisations

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2010 (2nd of 2)

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2010

Pita Sharples, New Zealand's minister of Māori affairs (right), spoke at the United Nations Forum on Indigenous Issues in 2010, telling it that the New Zealand government would reverse its earlier decision and support the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. New Zealand had been one of three countries that refused to support the declaration (the others were Canada and the United States). The previous Labour-led government believed the declaration was incompatible with New Zealand's constitutional and legal arrangements and Treaty of Waitangi settlement policy. Acceptance of the declaration had taken a year's negotiation between the Māori and National parties, governing in coalition in 2010.

Using this item

United Nations Photo
Reference: 434416
Photograph by Eskinder Debebe

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Rod Alley, 'Multilateral organisations - Rights and welfare', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/33836/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples-2010 (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Rod Alley, published 20 Jun 2012