Te Papa and Human Rights Commission partner to promote human rights

Te Papa and New Zealand’s Human Rights Commission will work together to promote human dignity and rights awareness. An inaugural Memorandum of Understanding is being signed at Te Papa today by Chief Human Rights Commissioner David Rutherford and Arapata Hakiwai, Te Papa’s Acting Chief Executive and Kaihautū.

“Human rights education and awareness begins at home. Understanding and learning about the stories of our nation and peoples is crucial if we are to build a better future for our children. We welcome the opportunity to continue to work alongside Te Papa,” said Mr Rutherford.

Mr Hakiwai said, “Te Papa and the Human Rights Commission both have goals to raise awareness of human dignity and rights issues. We have worked closely together in the past, and this agreement looks to build on that work. As New Zealand heads into a major period of commemoration and reflection on events of significance, this agreement provides a collaborative opportunity to grow awareness of very relevant and real issues of conflict and identity in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. Te Papa will continue to play a role in telling stories of human dignity and battles for human rights in the past, present and future.”

The memorandum identifies three key themes that will guide a joint work programme:

• promoting human rights education and advocacy through Te Papa’s Conflict and Identity programme, which will include Te Papa’s World War I commemoration activities;
• developing a programme to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 2015; and
• delivering the Federation of International Human Rights Museums conference; an international programme linking museums that engage with sensitive and controversial human rights themes, and the plight of many indigenous peoples, so they can share new thinking in a supportive environment. Te Papa will host the conference from 22 to 25 September 2015.

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