Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:618;Page:13773] 
12.  
METIRIA TUREI (Green) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Justice 
: Does the Government have any plans to amend the Human Rights Act 1993 to allow political parties to discriminate on the basis of religious belief or sexual orientation; if not why not? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON (Associate Minister of Justice) 
: 
 No there has been no call to date to amend the legislation in this respect. 
Metiria Turei 
: Is the Minister aware of the situation of Dipra Ray who was reportedly discriminated against in the selection of a youth MP on the grounds that he was Hindu and not Christian by a member of the United Future party; and what is her view of such discrimination? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: In so far as it relates to the Minister’s portfolio she may answer. 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: Yes I am aware of the article. Any further action to be taken would be up to the person concerned through the Human Rights Commission. 
Darren Hughes 
: Could a potential candidate take a complaint against a political party to the Human Rights Commission because of non-selection based on either religious belief or sexual orientation? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: Yes he or she could. But it would depend on the particular details of the case. It must be pointed out that political parties are not explicitly covered in the Act except in relation to their employees or the provision of goods and services—just like any other organisation. 
Marc Alexander 
: Does the Government have any plans to amend the Human Rights Act 1993 to accommodate the views of political parties such as the Green Party which debated at a conference several years ago whether our domestic pussy cats have rights; if not why not? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: So far as it relates to the Minister’s portfolio she may answer. 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: As a lover of cats I say that no there is no call to date to amend the legislation in this respect. 
Metiria Turei 
: Has the Minister seen any reports that suggest that the desire to discriminate on the grounds of religion is associated with the desire to discriminate on the grounds of sexual preference; and is she concerned that some political parties may want to send New Zealand back to the 19th century when such discrimination was widely practised and tolerated? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: The grounds that prohibit discrimination under the Human Rights Act do not in fact include political parties except in relation to employment. Any other matters or views relating to the actions described would be personal. 
Metiria Turei 
: Does the Minister agree with 16-year-old Dipra Ray when he said: “You expect that in a country where you preach about equality and all that stuff that you will be able to at least practise it.”; and does she have any concerns about the state of human rights in New Zealand when an Auckland teenager seems to have a better grasp of human rights than some political parties? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: One can understand his intense disappointment after having assumed he was going to come as part of the Youth Parliament. Undoubtedly from this experience he will know that there is a Human Rights Act and that there is the possibility if that Act needs to be changed of a process through which that can happen. It will be a matter for this House to determine ultimately.