New film highlights New Zealand's failure to uphold basic human rights

A video calling for the protection of human rights has been launched on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The video, titled A beautiful New Zealand is out there, by Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission, accompanies their campaign #LetsGoThereTogether which argues New Zealand has yet to live up to its reputation as a "paradise for all".

Acting Chief Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo says New Zealand's reputation as being safe and prosperous place to live contradicts the fact that NZ has not achieved fundamental human rights.

“Seventy-five years on, the rights outlined in the Declaration remain as relevant as ever," Sumeo says.

The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, which was the first legal document to define human rights that must be universally protected regardless of a person's status, including nationality, sex or ethnicity.

"Our short film tells some of the story of our beautiful country, which still has a way to go to fully uphold the rights of everyone who calls Aotearoa home," Sumeo says.

The minute-long video highlights a number of glaring societal issues, alongside other statistics like the fact that NZ has the most golf courses per capita.

The film was produced by Ogilvy, film director Florian Habicht and Curious Films Founder and Producer Matt Noonan.

The Commission also presented a human rights "must-do" list which Sumeo says contains some of the key rights the government must protect and promote.

The list advocates for the support of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, providing decent homes, addressing the gender and ethnic pay gap and supporting the rights of disabled people, tangata whenua and the rainbow community.

Additionally, the Commission is also using the #Let'sGoThereTogether campaign to highlight how they can provide services to the public such as protection and education about human rights.

Chief Executive Meg De Ronde says their services include addressing complaints of discrimination, sexual and racial harassment and other human rights concerns.

“Together we can look to the next 75 years and create a fairer, more inclusive Aotearoa - one that lives up to its reputation as a paradise,” says de Ronde."

The Commission's campaign can be viewed here.