Human rights

Human rights exist to protect the dignity of individuals regardless of their status or circumstances. This includes the protection of all people from inequality and discrimination, within a legal and political framework that allows people to reach their full potential, and allows everyone to take part in political, civil, social, cultural and economic life. A sustainable, just and socially cohesive society works to uphold human rights, foster trust in government and public institutions such as the police and the health system, minimise inequality and discrimination and encourage participation in the political process.

Proportion voting at general elections

The proportion of enrolled voters who vote in general elections and the proportion of people of voting age who vote in general elections are measures of political participation, interest in national affairs and people’s sense of connection with wider society. They are also indicators of the extent to which people feel part of the political process and of their trust in political institutions. Voting behaviour is complex, however, and a high voting turnout may also be a measure of people’s dissatisfaction with and/or a lack of trust in the existing government.

The percentage of enrolled electors casting valid votes in national elections is considered relatively high at over 80 percent. Voter turnout in New Zealand has declined slowly in recent years, in line with other OECD countries. However, since 1951, voting levels have remained at 80 percent or above, except for a low year in 1978 (69 percent).⁶ The introduction of the mixed member proportional representation voting system (MMP) in 1996 does not appear to have had an impact on voting levels, with similar voting patterns in 1990, 1993 and 1999, at around 85 percent, although voting levels increased slightly in 1996, to 88 percent.

The measure presented here only reflects the participation of those who are enrolled on the electoral roll. In recent years, the proportion of the voting-age population who voted has followed a similar pattern to the proportion of enrolled electors who voted. In 1999, 77 percent of the voting-age population voted in the general election compared with 78 percent in 1990.

Figure 9.2

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Gender and ethnicity of elected representatives

Political representation that is reflective of the population in terms of gender and ethnicity is more likely to reflect the issues and interests of various population groups. In terms of the gender of elected national representatives, Figure 9.3 shows a significant growth in the number of female elected representatives since 1981, which has levelled out at 36 women in Parliament in 1996 and 1999.

Many changes in representation have occurred over time, and can be illustrated by comparing 1969 and 1999. Out of the 84 Members of Parliament (MPs) in 1969, there were 81 males (96 percent) and three females (4 percent). There were four Mäori members (5 percent). While the vast majority of MPs were of European/Pakeha descent, there is no clear evidence of specific ethnicity in their biographies. Out of the 120 MPs in 1999, there were 84 males (70 percent) and 36 females (30 percent), including the first transgender MP. There were 16 Mäori MPs (13 percent), four Pacific MPs (3 percent), and one Asian MP (0.8 percent). The introduction of MMP may have contributed to an increase in the diversity of people elected to Parliament.

Figure 9.3

Complaints to the Human Rights Commission and the Race Relations Office

The level of complaints made to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Race Relations Office (RRO) is sometimes used as an indicator of the levels and types of discrimination in New Zealand. However, care must be used in interpreting this indicator, as changes in the number of complaints can be affected by changes in the propensity to register a complaint.

In the year to June 2000, 337 complaints were made to the Human Rights Commission⁷ (half of which related to employment) and 1,031 to the Race Relations Office,⁸ which is an increase of 12 percent and 56 percent, respectively, on 1999 levels.

Disability complaints to the HRC were the largest category of complaints (28 percent in 2000 and 26 percent in 1999). This was followed by sexual harassment (18 percent in 2000 and 24 percent in 1999), and age discrimination (14 percent in 2000 and 13 percent in 1999).

The majority of complaints to the Race Relations Office in 1999 concerned racial harassment (22 percent) and racial disharmony (15 percent), discrimination in the provision of goods and services (19 percent) and in employment (15 percent).

Endnotes

6. Final figures for the 2002 General Election were not available at the time this publication went to press.
7. Human Rights Commission (2000).
8. Office of the Race Relations Conciliator (2000).

Related information

Elections New Zealand

Parliament - list of current Members of Parliament

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