Te Tapeke: Fair Futures in Aotearoa

THE MAJOR WORK FOR THE SOCIETY’S EXPERT ADVICE TEAM IN 2020 WAS SUPPORTING THE TE TAPEKE: FAIR FUTURES EXPERT PANEL. THIS DIVERSE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY PANEL WAS CONVENED TO EXAMINE ISSUES OF FAIRNESS, EQUALITY AND EQUITY IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND. THE PANEL’S TASK IS TO IDENTIFY AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE IMPORTANT CHOICES NEW ZEALANDERS FACE IN DETERMINING HOW TO SHAPE TE TAPEKE FAIR FUTURES IN OUR COUNTRY. THE NAME ‘TE TAPEKE’ COMES FROM ‘KA TAPEKE KATOA TE IWI’ AND EMBRACES THE CONCEPT OF INCLUDING EVERYONE, LEAVING NO-ONE BEHIND.

In Whiringa-ā-nuku October, an introductory document that sets out some key concepts when thinking about fairness in Aotearoa was published, alongside profiles of the 14 panel members. One of the important concepts to consider is the difference between equality and equity. Additionally, two of the panel members released expert commentaries on aspects of fairness in Aotearoa: Panel co-convenor Associate Professor Andrew Erueti ‘A fair go for Māori’ and Professor Emerita Barbara Brookes ‘A fair go’. Also published in Whiringa-ā-nuku, in the lead up to the 2020 Election, was data on voting in New Zealand viewed through the lens of fairness. This set out differences in the age distributions of different populations in Aotearoa and how this impacts on voting power in different electorates. The panel’s overall intention is to raise public awareness of data and evidence that points to questions of fairness in Aotearoa, and to encourage New Zealanders to think about their own views on fairness and what a fair future would look like for them. Many more papers and expert commentaries will be published in 2021 on topics including housing, hauora health, economics, refugees, disabilities and more.

“We have a generally well-educated society, a developed economy, and there is a strong democratic model at its heart and much that is exemplary in contemporary New Zealand society. We have, in the main, a huge amount of compassion and support for people who require it. We also value our global reputation as a nation of fair, open-minded, and innovative people. But while there is much to celebrate, we cannot afford to be complacent. The issues with which this panel is concerned are real and there is scope for a great deal more work at every level. Recognising that there is a growing number of New Zealanders for whom life is not naturally a level playing field, and working in earnest to address this, is absolutely critical.”

DAME LOWELL GODDARD DMNZ QC, TE TAPEKE FAIR FUTURES CO-CONVENOR

SEE MORE ON TE TAPEKE FAIR FUTURES

bit.ly/2020HL-47