National Statement on Religious Diversity

The National Statement on Religious Diversity is a result of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme, and is intended to provide “a framework for the recognition of New Zealand's diverse faith communities and their harmonious interaction with each other, with government and with other groups in society.”

Content

Preamble: New Zealand is a country of many faiths with a significant minority who profess no religion. Increasing religious diversity is a significant feature of public life.

At the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, Governor Hobson affirmed, in response to a question from Catholic Bishop Pompallier, "the several faiths (beliefs) of England, of the Wesleyans, of Rome, and also Maori custom shall alike be protected". This foundation creates the opportunity to reaffirm an acknowledgement of the diversity of beliefs in New Zealand.

Christianity has played and continues to play a formative role in the development of New Zealand in terms of the nation's identity, culture, beliefs, institutions and values.

New settlers have always been religiously diverse, but only recently have the numbers of some of their faith communities grown significantly as a result of migration from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These communities have a positive role to play in our society. It is in this context that we recognise the right to religion and the responsibilities of religious communities.

International treaties including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights uphold the right to freedom of religion and belief - the right to hold a belief; the right to change one's religion or belief; the right to express one's religion or belief; and the right not to hold a belief. These rights are reflected in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and Human Rights Act. The right to religion entails affording this right to others and not infringing their human rights.

The following statement provides a framework for the recognition of New Zealand's diverse faith communities and their harmonious interaction with each other, with government and with other groups in society:

1. The State and Religion

• The State seeks to treat all faith communities and those who profess no religion equally before the law. New Zealand has no official or established religion.

2. The Right to Religion

• New Zealand upholds the right to freedom of religion and belief and the right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of religious or other belief.

3. The Right to Safety

• Faith communities and their members have a right to safety and security.

4. The Right of Freedom of Expression

• The right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media are vital for democracy but should be exercised with responsibility.

5. Recognition and Accommodation

• Reasonable steps should be taken in educational and work environments and in the delivery of public services to recognise and accommodate diverse religious beliefs and practices.

6. Education

• Schools should teach an understanding of different religious and spiritual traditions in a manner that reflects the diversity of their national and local community.

7. Religious Differences

• Debate and disagreement about religious beliefs will occur but must be exercised within the rule of law and without resort to violence.

8. Cooperation and understanding

• Government and faith communities have a responsibility to build and maintain positive relationships with each other, and to promote mutual respect and understanding.

Background

The statement was prepared by the Victoria University Religious Studies Programme and authored by Programme Director Professor Paul Morris. The statement was the subject of a national process of public consultation coordinated by the Human Rights Commission, and was endorsed by the National Interfaith Forum in Hamilton in February 2007 as a basis for ongoing public discussion.

Government ratification

Prime Minister Helen Clark presented the statement to the third Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Interfaith Cooperation to be held at Waitangi from May 29-31, 2007.

Controversy

The Statement has caused some controversy over its first clause, which states that "New Zealand has no official or established religion." Opponents of the statement argue New Zealand's head of state Queen Elizabeth II is the supreme governor of the Church of England (although not in Her Majesty's capacity as Queen of New Zealand, as the Anglican Church of New Zealand is not an established church). Brian Tamaki, a Bishop of the Destiny Church stated: "That [Christianity] is the chosen religion of the Head of the Commonwealth. For us to depart from that, don't you think that that is bordering on creating some type of treason, religious treason anyhow?".^[1] However, a poll of 501 New Zealanders by Research New Zealand in June 2007 found that 58% of respondents did not think Christianity should be New Zealand's official religion.^[2]

Another source of controversy has been the fact that the composition of the working group managing the formulation of the National Statement and its endorsement was limited to representatives of religious groups. Consequently, while extending some rights to non-religious people the Statement did omit to extend the right of safety (clause 4). This has led to some, such as the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists, to criticise from representatives of non-religious beliefs.^[3]

References

1. ^ Collins, Simon. "Denying state religion like treason, says Brian Tamaki - New Zealand Herald February 17 2007". http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10424395. Retrieved 2007-04-20. 
2. ^ Research New Zealand (17 June 2007). "Limited Support for Christianity as Official Religion". http://www.researchnz.com/pdf/Media%20Releases/RNZ%20Media%20Release%20-%20Xtiannation.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-06. 
3. ^ "NZARH - Frequently Asked Questions". http://www.nzarh.org.nz/faq.htm#14. Retrieved 25 July 2010. 

• Human Rights Commission website: The NZ Diversity Action Programme: National Statement on Religious Diversity
• Human Rights Commission website: The NZ Diversity Action Programme: The National Statement on Religious Diversity: Background to the Draft Statement on Religious Diversity
• Your Views:Is New Zealand a Christian country?. NZ Herald. February 26, 2007.
• Human Rights Commission Press Release: National Religious Diversity Statement Sparks Debate. February 16, 2007.