United Nations General Assembly A/HRC/18/35/Add.4 Distr.: General 31 May 2011 Original: English Human Rights Council Eighteenth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya Addendum The situation of Maori people in New Zealand∗ Summary In the present report, which has been updated since the advance unedited version was made public on 17 February 2011, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples examines the situation of Maori people in New Zealand on the basis of information received during his visit to the country from 18-23 July 2010 and independent research. The visit was carried out in follow-up to the 2005 visit of the previous Special Rapporteur, Rodolfo Stavenhagen. The principal focus of the report is an examination of the process for settling historical and contemporary claims based on the Treaty of Waitangi, although other key issues are also addressed. Especially in recent years, New Zealand has made significant strides to advance the rights of Maori people and to address concerns raised by the former Special Rapporteur. These include New Zealand’s expression of support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, its steps to repeal and reform the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act, and its efforts to carry out a constitutional review process with respect to issues related to Maori people. Further efforts to advance Maori rights should be consolidated and strengthened, and the Special Rapporteur will continue to monitor developments in this regard. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes the need for the principles enshrined in the Treaty of Waitangi and related, internationally protected human rights to be provided security within the domestic legal system of New Zealand so that these rights are not vulnerable to political ∗ The summary is being circulated in all official languages. The report, which is annexed to the summary, is being circulated in the language of submission only. GE.11-13878