8 May 2009

NZ may reverse stance on indigenous peoples

8:34 pm on 8 May 2009

The New Zealand Government says it may endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Justice Minister Simon Power made the statement while defending New Zealand's human rights record at a UN meeting in Geneva.

Mr Power told the meeting that Prime Minister John Key is keen to review the declaration, as long as New Zealand's current framework for indigenous rights cannot be compromised.

The UN Human Rights Council is due to issue its findings on New Zealand's human rights record on Monday.

New Zealand was one of only four countries that refused to sign the declaration in 2007.