3 Feb 2004

NZ's Race Relations Commissioner hopes to strengthen ties

3:29 pm on 3 February 2004

New Zealand's Race Relations Commissioner, Joris de Bres, is hoping the four day conference with delegates from 17 countries around the world will strengthen networks.

Race Relations commissioners from around the world are gathered in Auckland for their first ever meeting which started today.

Mr de Bres says while issues will focus on indigenous rights, immigration, refugees and war on terrorism, he's hoping it will bring colleagues closer together.

"Well, I think it's very important to me that we strengthen the network of people in Australia, the Pacific and New Zealand , and that's in particular working with the Fiji human rights commission rather than Australia, but also to establish much better communication with people doing the same work around the world."

New Zealand's Race Relations Commissioner, Joris de Bres.