Released 1 December 2021

‘This report, and the companion report which focuses on tāngata whaikaha Māori, provide, for the first time, an evidence base and graphic illustration of the violence and abuse suffered by tāngata whaikaha Māori and disabled people. They show a continued absence of effective responses to reduce its incidence.

The Disability Rights Commissioner commissioned two reports to shine the light on these long-standing serious issues and to offer Tiriti o Waitangi and human rights solutions to address them’.

The reports, Whakamanahia Te Tiriti, Whakahaumarutia te Tangata (Honour the Treaty, Protect the Person) and Whakamahia te Tūkino kore Ināianei, ā Muri Ake Nei (Acting Now for a Violence and Abuse Free Future), set out the evidence available on the causes and impacts of violence and abuse against tāngata whaikaha Māori and disabled people.

‘The reports also clearly outline the gaps in systems, knowledge and services, and set out a roadmap for systemic change.

‘In Aotearoa, racism and ableism intersect to create unique additional risks for tāngata whaikaha Māori who must navigate racism, discrimination and other biases,’ Ms Tesoriero, Disability Rights Commissioner says.

‘This has resulted in the suppression of rangatiratanga along with the many disabling effects on the ability of tāngata whaikaha Māori to define themselves and their own lives’.

The reports make 20 recommendations to ensure actions are grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and human rights. They advise prioritising rangatiratanga, partnering with whānau, hapu and iwi to strengthen collective and kāupapa Māori approaches, and greater support for children – embedding disability rights in agencies, more training, and continuous improvement. (From the website0. Record #7386