Latest Submissions
When appropriate, the NZARH responds to requests for submissions on bills that are relevant to the rights of the non-religious section of New Zealand society. We hope through our work to bring a reasoned, rational and secular voice to bear on these important decisions that our government makes on behalf of all of us, and we hope that we can help to ensure that those who make legislation keep it fair for all New Zealanders, without favouring those with any particular religious beliefs. Our past submissions on various Select Committee consultations can be read below.
-
Modern Slavery Bill – Oral Submission
Sara Passmore The New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists (NZARH) is a registered charity and Incorporated Society that exists to serve the interests of the non-religious; those who do not believe in gods or the supernatural. We are pleased to see New Zealand taking action to address modern slavery. We see this Bill as a strong start, but its definition of modern slavery…
-
Modern Slavery Bill
NZARH submission on the Modern Slavery Bill Humanists have long been active in the abolitionist movement, and contemporary humanist organisations like the NZARH have taken a stance against modern slavery. Humanists International (HI), the umbrella body for Humanist organisations globally, has made repeated calls for greater protections of human rights and for more to be done to end slavery The NZARH supports the Modern Slavery Bill…
-
Regulatory Standards Bill
The humanist position on the Regulatory Standards Bill Humanism is a democratic and ethical lifestance which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethics based on human and other natural values, in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through human…
-
Taxation and the not-for profit sector
About the New Zealand Association of Rationalists The New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists (NZARH) is a registered charity and Incorporated Society that exists to serve the interests of the non-religious; those who do not believe in gods or the supernatural. We’ve been serving Aotearoa New Zealand’s secular community since 1927. We have over 300 members and supporters, and we support and campaign…
-
Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill
About the New Zealand Association of Rationalists The New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists (NZARH) is a charity organisation that exists to serve the interests of non-religious; those who do not believe in gods or the supernatural. We’ve been serving Aotearoa New Zealand’s atheist community since 1927. We have over 300 members, and support and campaign on behalf of over 2.6 million people…
-
Review of the End of Life Choice Act (2019)
About the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists The New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists (NZARH) is an incorporated society that has been operating since 1927. We have over 300 members, and support and campaign on behalf of over 2.2 million people in New Zealand who declare themselves non-religious. Our Association’s purpose is to advocate for a secular, rational, science-based and humane…
-
Submission on 2024 Education and Training Amendment Bill – Charter Schools submission
Humanist Society of New Zealand Submission on 2024 Education and Training Amendment Bill – Charter Schools submission 29 July 2024 admin@humanist.nz About the Humanist Society of New Zealand The Humanist Society of New Zealand is a national charity working to promote Humanism, support and represent the non-religious and promote a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion…
-
Submission on the End of Life Choices Bill
Today we made a submission in support of the End of Life Choices Bill. You can read our submission below. Justice Committee SecretariatCommittee SecretariatJustice CommitteeParliament BuildingsWellington 29 January 2018 To the Justice Committee, Submission on the End of Life Choices BillThis submission is from the Humanist Society of New Zealand (Inc.) We wish to appear before the committee to speak to our submission. I can…
-
Humanists New Zealand supports ban on so-called “conversion therapy”
On 7 September the Humanist Society made a submission in support of the ban of so-called “conversion therapy”. You can read our full submission below. About Humanist Society of NZ (Inc.) The Humanist Society of New Zealand (Inc.) is a secular organisation that supports Human Rights. Humanism embodies a secular approach to ethics and morality, and we have long supported the rights of LGBTQI+ communities.…
-
Humanist NZ’s views on the Ministry of Justice’s discussion document “Proposals against incitement of hatred and discrimination”
This response is from the Humanist Society of NZ (Humanist NZ), a secular organisation with an interest in Human Rights with a particular emphasis on the rights of non-religious people. The Ministry of Justice is considering changes to legislation in response to the report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack at Christchurch masjidain on 15 March 2019. It is seeking…
-
Proposals against incitement of hatred and discrimination in Aotearoa New Zealand
Introduction Overall, we consider the proposed legislation changes to be positive, and believe that they will help to protect many vulnerable groups in New Zealand. Proposal 1: We agree that broadening the hate speech provisions to new groups will afford these groups better protection, but non-religious or ethical beliefs should be included as a protected group Proposal Two: We support replacing the existing wording…
-
Submission to the Health Select Committee currently considering the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill
In January we made a submission in support of the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill. We also proposed that an obligation be imposed upon all medical practitioners to provide relevant details to their local Medical Officers of Health whenever, in their daily practice, they observe a case where FGM has been performed on patients who were born in New Zealand on or…