Printer-friendly VersionChinese make first steps in participating in legislative change
The Office of Ethnic Affairs successfully hosted its first Christchurch forum for the Year of the Ox on Saturday 7 March. "How the law works for you - an interactive forum on law and order in New Zealand.
Safety and security and a lack of knowledge of how to access the New Zealand justice system are common issues for many ethnic communities. The Office of Ethnic Affairs has been developing strong links within the Chinese Community and leaders have requested more information on how to participate more actively within the system.
The forum was an ideal opportunity to follow-up and feedback on many of the issues and concerns raised by ethnic communities during a nation wide collaborative pre-engagement consultations on safety and security held late last year. That process was led by the Office of Ethnic Affairs , in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and New Zealand Police.
Over 130 people from various Chinese communities and associations throughout Christchurch in addition to leaders of other ethnic communities enjoyed a full programme and acquired the practical skills needed to participate in legislative change among other information exchanges.
Key Note Speakers
Key note speaker the Honourable Pansy Wong, Minister for Ethnic Affairs urged ethnic communities to learn more about the justice system and legal processes in New Zealand, to engage and participate within it and take proactive action.
The forum’s second key note speaker Nigel Hampton QC gave a very thorough yet accessible presentation on the legal system in New Zealand.
Discussion panellists included, Paul O’Neill ,Manager of Canterbury Community Law Centre, Denny Anker from Restorative Justice Services, Chris Littlewood, Assistant Ombudsman, Inspector John Price and Constable Li Ying Cai from the New Zealand Police and Kelly Bristow from the Christchurch District Court.
The Forum
The Justice system
Key elements of the forum included presentations on the New Zealand Justice system, the Bill of Rights, and legislation and procedural law.
Select Committee Submissions
A key learning outcome of the day was achieved through a work shop which outlined the current law and order bills before the select committee and taught the participants how to fill out and process a submission.
The Panel and Service Providers
At the end of the day, forum participants were given the opportunity to engage with organizations that provide support to those with legal issues. These included the Assistant Ombudsman, Community Law, Neighbourhood Support, New Zealand Police, Tenants Protection Association, Shakti Ethnic Women’s Support Group and Restorative Justice Services. Information was also available from Victim Support, Citizens Advice and the Human Rights Commission, Gambling Compliance, and Problem Gambling services were also represented.
Key Messages
Key messages that emerged were reiterated by panellists and experts, as follows:
- Learn about the NZ system, you have a right to be safe and an obligation to participate. Understand the context of the New Zealand system and factor in New Zealand’s obligations under various international conventions on Human Rights and New Zealand’s own Bill of Rights. These are both platforms which partially guide the treatment of victims and accused.
- Trust the Institutions and processes in NZ; they may not be perfect but by and large New Zealand has one of the least corrupt judicial services and Police force in the world and those involved in the Justice system as victims or accused can rely on confidential non corrupt processes.
- There are social issues within different ethnic communities which need to be addressed within and by those communities and individuals and families within communities need to be supported by their community as well as the wider community.
- Join Neighbourhood Support
- There are very accessible and free Non Government support systems in place to guide you through the Justice process, Victim support, Community Law, Shakti etc - use them.
- The Select Committee process is a key opportunity to have your voice heard and to influence legislation before it becomes law. Engage with this process and make submissions to the committee.
Comments from Participants
One participant expressed her feelings about the experience in the following words “It looks like we get on a touring train, which took me to go through remarkable views about New Zealand justice, law and order!”
“The ethnic communities in Christchurch are most appreciative of what you (the Office of Ethnic Affairs) have done for us in doing all the hard work in organising and putting together such an informative and enjoyable forum…….we are now better informed, also know who to approach for assistance and how to make the law works for us and others in the communities.” says Prof. Kuan Meng Goh, secretary of Canterbury Branch, New Zealand Chinese Association.
Takayoshi Kamiya, former president of Japanese Society of Canterbury also commented that the Hon Pansy Wong’s message encouraging participation was noted and gratefully received.
WengKei Chen, Asset Policy Engineer of Christchurch City Council, said “Our concerns were noticed – straight after the select committee hearing I was invited to the then Justice Minister’s office to continue discussion on our concerns of the ethnic communities.”
Where to from here? How to participate in the Select Committee Process
Attached is a guide (685kb pdf) which details the law and order legislation/bills currently before the Select Committee of Parliament and provides a simple guide to preparing a submission form.
All submissions must be in English but can be very short and simple.
If you want to put in a submission on the Bills before the Committee but still feel uncertain, please contact – Candy Wu Zhang……phone email from the Office of Ethnic Affairs and she will identify someone who can assist you. Candy speaks Mandarin and Cantonese and English.
Similair law and order forums will be run throughout the country in Hamilton Auckland and Wellington. In Christchurch the Office of Ethnic Affairs will partner with some of the participating agencies to bring additional information on law and order issues to selected neighbourhoods in the coming months.
The next Select Committee workshop will be held in Hamilton on 30 March – watch this space for further details.
For contact details of organisations in the Christchurch justice system click here.