Freedom in the World 2018 - New Zealand

Freedom Status: Free
Aggregate Score: 98 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free)
Freedom Rating: 1.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)
Political Rights: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)
Civil Liberties: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)

Quick Facts

Population: 4,700,000
Capital: Wellington
GDP/capita: $38,202
Press Freedom Status: Free

OVERVIEW

New Zealand has a record of free and fair elections, and of guaranteeing political rights and civil liberties. Concerns include discrimination against the Māori and other minority populations, and reports of foreign influence in politics and the educational sector.

Key Developments in 2017:

• Despite winning fewer seats than the center-right National Party in September's parliamentary elections, the center-left Labour Party formed a coalition government with the New Zealand First party and the Green Party. Jacinda Ardern of the Labour Party became prime minister.

• The new government has prioritized reducing child poverty, which nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have identified as a significant problem in the country.

• Foreign influence in political affairs was a growing concern during the year, especially in the wake of reports of large political donations from Chinese sources, and attempts by China to monitor Chinese students.

POLITICAL RIGHTS: 40 / 40

A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 12 / 12

New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with British monarch Elizabeth II acting as head of state. A governor general, appointed by the Queen on advice from the prime minister, represents the British monarch. The prime minister is the head of government and is appointed by the governor general, and is usually the leader of the popularly elected majority party or coalition. Jacinda Ardern, leader of the Labour Party, was appointed prime minister in October 2017 following the year's legislative elections.

The 120 members of the unicameral House of Representatives serve three-year terms. A mixed-member electoral system combines voting in geographic districts with proportional representation balloting. September 2017 parliamentary elections resulted in no single party winning the required 61 votes to form a government. Although the National Party took 56 seats, the Labour Party, which won 46 seats, formed a coalition with two smaller parties: New Zealand First, a populist and anti-immigration party that claimed 9 seats, and the Green Party, which took 8 seats. Elections in New Zealand are generally well administered, and their results considered credible.

The independent New Zealand Electoral Commission administers elections and referenda, promotes compliance with electoral laws, and provides public education on electoral issues.

B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 16 / 16

New Zealanders are able to organize political parties without undue legal restrictions or influence, and political parties are free to campaign for support.

Opposition parties can potentially change with each parliamentary election. Power has traditionally fluctuated between the center-left Labour Party and the center-right National Party. Currently, the National Party represents a strong opposition, holding 56 seats in Parliament.

People are generally able to express their political preferences without undue influence from powerful groups. However, several studies in recent years have claimed that some lawmakers and parties have accepted sizable political donations from Chinese businesspeople and other Chinese figures, raising the possibility that such donations might influence their politics.

Political rights and electoral opportunities are granted to all New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents have the right to vote. Seven of Parliament's constituency seats are reserved for representatives of the Māori population, though Māori may also vote or run in general electoral districts. In the 2017 parliamentary elections, Golriz Ghahraman, from Iran, became the first refugee to be elected as a member of Parliament.

Women are relatively well represented in politics, and the government has taken steps to encourage their participation. Ardern is the third woman to serve as the country's prime minister.

C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 12 / 12

The prime minister and cabinet ministers – who are selected from the House of Representatives by the governing party or coalition – determine the government's policy agenda.

Government corruption is not considered a significant problem in New Zealand, and cases of corruption and misuse of office are routinely investigated and prosecuted.

The government operates with a high level of transparency, and political affairs are openly discussed in Parliament and the media. Parliamentary records, government policies, and commissioned reports are published online and readily available as required by law. The government upholds transparency in budgetary procedures, and members of Parliament must submit annual financial disclosure statements.

CIVIL LIBERTIES: 58 / 60

D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 16 / 16

New Zealand has a free and robust independent media sector, including a Māori-language public network and radio station.

Religious freedom is protected by law and generally respected in practice. Only religious organizations that collect donations need to register with the government.

Academic freedom usually prevails at all levels of instruction. However, foreign influence in New Zealand's higher education sector was a concern in 2017, with reports of Chinese attempts to influence student groups and monitor Chinese students.

New Zealanders freely discuss personal views on sensitive topics. However, in March 2017, new intelligence and security legislation was approved by Parliament. The legislation allows law enforcement to access private communications under certain conditions in order to protect national security. Separately, state security officials warned the government in December that Beijing may have attempted to "unduly influence expatriate communities."

E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 12 / 12

The government generally respects freedoms of assembly. Large antiwar, environmental, and women's rights protests took place in 2017.

NGOs are free to form, function, and solicit funds.

Workers may freely organize and bargain collectively, and trade unions actively engage in political debates and campaigns. Workers may strike, with the exception of uniformed police personnel.

F. RULE OF LAW: 15 / 16

The New Zealand judiciary is generally independent.

Law enforcement practices and court procedures provide for due process protections in civil and criminal matters. Defendants and detainees are presumed innocent until proven guilty and by law must immediately be notified of the charges against them.

Pretrial detention durations have increased in recent years, as authorities have relaxed the time limit in which cases must be concluded, and tightened bail requirements.

Citizens and noncitizen residents have legal recourse to seek redress for physical harm. Prison conditions generally meet international standards, though some are poorly equipped to house detainees with disabilities or mental health problems.

The 1993 Human Rights Act protects all people in New Zealand from discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, among others, and this right is generally respected in practice. However, Māori – who account for approximately 16 percent of the population – and Pacific Islanders experience some discrimination in schools, the workplace, and the healthcare system. Indigenous people are also disproportionately represented in the penal system, accounting for just over half of the prison population as of December 2017. Recent campaigns to recruit more officers of Māori, Pacific Islander, and Asian descent aim to improve cultural and ethnic sensitivity within the police force, and to combat profiling and discrimination.

The government enforces strong legislation protecting the rights of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) individuals.

In 2016, the government agreed to increase the number of refugees accepted annually from 750 to 1,000, which will go into permanent effect in 2018. The number of refugees the country was permitted to accept was temporarily increased in 2017 in order to assist more Syrian refugees.

According to the Child Poverty Monitor 2017 Technical Report, nearly 30 percent of children lived in poverty in 2016, with children of Māori and Pacific Islander descent being particularly vulnerable. The Ardern government has specifically identified reducing child poverty as a priority.

G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 15 / 16

The government respects the freedom of movement, and neither state nor nonstate actors interfere with people's ability to choose their place of residence or employment, or institution of higher education.

New Zealand's legal and regulatory frameworks provide strong protections and mechanisms for the establishment and operation of private businesses and the protection of property rights.

New Zealanders have extensive personal freedoms and protections, including choice of marriage partner and family size. However, violence against women and children remains a critical problem in many communities. A 2016 government paper reported that one in three women has been a victim of sexual violence in their lifetime. Abortion is legal only under certain conditions, including when the mental or physical health of a women is at risk. Same-sex marriage was legalized in 2013, and same-sex couples may jointly adopt children.

Citizens have access to a wide variety of economic opportunities, but the Māori and Pacific Islander populations have disproportionately high rates of unemployment, impacting their economic and social mobility.

Migrant workers can be found engaging in forced labor in a number of industries, including fishing, agriculture, construction, and hospitality, and as domestic workers. The government has taken action to combat forced labor, but penalties for some abuses associated with it, such as delays in paying wages, are often light.

Scoring Key: X / Y (Z)

X = Score Received
Y = Best Possible Score
Z = Change from Previous Year