SEARCH DATABASE
The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
Limitations and/or Derogations
- EnglishSubject to section 4, the rights and freedoms contained in this Bill of Rights may be subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. (Bill of Rights Act 1990, Sec. 5)
Marriage and Family Life
- EnglishFor the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that preferential treatment granted by reason of—
(a) a woman’s pregnancy or childbirth; or
(b) a person’s responsibility for part-time care or full-time care of children or other dependants— shall not constitute a breach of this Part. (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 74)
Marriage and Family Life
- English
(1) Anything done or omitted which would otherwise constitute a breach of any of the provisions of this Part9 shall not constitute such a breach if—
(a) it is done or omitted in good faith for the purpose of assisting or advancing persons or groups of persons, being in each case persons against whom discrimination is unlawful by virtue of this Part; and
(b) those persons or groups need or may reasonably be supposed to need assistance or advancement in order to achieve an equal place with other members of the community.
(2) Nothing in this Part—
(a) limits the power of the Crown to establish or arrange work or training schemes or employment assistance measures, eligibility for which may, in whole or in part, be determined by a person’s age, employment status, or family status; or
(b) makes it unlawful for any person to recruit or refer any other person who is of a particular age or of a particular employment status or of a particular family status for any work or training scheme or employment assistance measure that is established or arranged by the Crown, the eligibility for which may, in whole or in part, be determined by a person’s age, employment status, or family status. (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 73)
Marriage and Family Life
- English
...
(4) For the purposes of this section,— child has the meaning given to it in section 8 of the Family Violence Act 2018
family violence has the meaning given to it in section 9 the Family Violence Act 2018 person affected by family violence means a person who is 1 or both of the following:
(a) a person against whom any other person is inflicting, or has inflicted, family violence:
(b) a person with whom there ordinarily or periodically resides a child against whom any other person is inflicting, or has inflicted, family violence.
(5) Subsection (1) applies regardless of how long ago the family violence occurred or is suspected or assumed or believed to have occurred, and even if the family violence occurred or is suspected or assumed or believed to have occurred before the person became an employee. (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 62A)
Minorities
- EnglishA person who belongs to an ethnic, religious, or linguistic minority in New Zealand shall not be denied the right, in community with other members of that minority, to enjoy the culture, to profess and practise the religion, or to use the language, of that minority. (Bill of Rights Act 1990, Sec. 20)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- English(1) Nothing in section 22 shall apply to any restrictions on the employment of any person on work involving the national security of New Zealand—
(a) by reference to his or her—
(i) religious or ethical belief; or
(ii) political opinion; or
(iii) disability, within the meaning of section 21(1)(h)(iii) or section 21(1)(h)(iv); or
(iv) family status, within the meaning of section 21(1)(l)(iii) or section 21(1)(l)(iv); or
(v) national origin; or
(b) by reference to the national origin of any relative of that person.
… (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 25)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
- EnglishHer Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand and to the respective families and individuals thereof the full exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates Forests Fisheries and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession; but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and the individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of Preemption over such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate at such prices as may be agreed upon between the respective Proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf. (Treaty of Waitangi, Article the Second)
Protection from Violence
- English
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person—
(a) to publish or distribute written matter which is threatening, abusive, or insulting, or to broadcast by means of radio or television or other electronic communication words which are threatening, abusive, or insulting; or
(b) to use in any public place as defined in section 2(1) of the Summary Offences Act 1981, or within the hearing of persons in any such public place, or at any meeting to which the public are invited or have access, words which are threatening, abusive, or insulting; or
(c) to use in any place words which are threatening, abusive, or insulting if the person using the words knew or ought to have known that the words were reasonably likely to be published in a newspaper, magazine, or periodical or broadcast by means of radio or television,—
being matter or words likely to excite hostility against or bring into contempt any group of persons in or who may be coming to New Zealand on the ground of the colour, race, or ethnic or national origins of that group of persons.
… (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 61)
Protection from Violence
- English
Nothing in section 5710 shall prevent the holding or provision, at any educational establishment, of courses or counselling restricted to persons of a particular sex, race, ethnic or national origin, or sexual orientation, where highly personal matters, such as sexual matters or the prevention of violence, are involved. (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 59)
Protection from Violence
- EnglishEvery person has the right not to be subjected to medical or scientific experimentation without that person's consent. (Bill of Rights Act 1990, Sec. 10)