4650 No. 174

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

Royal Commission on Social Policy

ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

To Our Trusty and Well-beloved The Right Honourable Sir Ivor LLOYD MORGAN RICHARDSON, of Wellington, a Judge of the Court of Appeal, REUBINA ANN BALLIN, c.b.e., of Christchurch, Psychologist, MARION EDNA BRUCE, q.s.o., of Porirua, Community Worker, MASON HAROLD DURIE, m.b. ChB., of Feilding, Medical Practitioner, and ROSSLYN JOY NOONAN, of Wellington, Trade Unionist:

GREETING:
Know Ye that We, reposing trust and confidence in your integrity, knowledge, and ability, do hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint you, the said The Right Honourable Sir Ivor LLOYD MORGAN RICHARDSON, Reubina Ann Ballin, Marion Edna Bruce, Mason Harold Durie, and Rosslyn Joy Noonan, to be a Commission to inquire into and report upon the extent to which existing institutions of policy meet the needs of New Zealanders, and to report on what fundamental or significant reformation or changes are necessary or desirable in existing policies, administration, institutions, or systems to secure a more fair, humanitarian, consistent, efficient, and economical social policy which will meet the changed and changing needs of New Zealand and achieve a more just society:

And, in particular, to receive representations upon, inquire into, investigate, and report on—

(i) the extent to which New Zealand meets the standards of a fair society and the main reasons why New Zealand falls short of any of these standards, and, in particular,—

— To investigate whether the ways in which responsibility for social wellbeing is currently shared among individuals, families, voluntary social groups, ethnic and tribal affiliations and other communities as well as local and central government hinders or assists the achievement of a fair society;

— To investigate both how existing government systems and policies assist or hinder the achievement of a fair society, and whether any hindrance results from inappropriate or conflicting objectives or inappropriate processes;

— To identify the constraints on the achievement of the standards of a fair society:

(ii) The principles, derived from the standards of a fair society and based on the social and economic foundations of New Zealand, which government may apply to all policy:

(iii) The guidelines for the application of these principles in each of the areas of social wellbeing:

(iv) The nature and extent of change in policies and institutions which will enable New Zealand to meet the standards of a fair society with greater effectiveness and efficiency:

(v) The criteria and mechanisms by which the social impact of policies may be monitored and assessed:

(vi) Your priorities for the implementation of your recommendations:

(vii) Any associated matter that may be thought by you to be relevant to the general objects of the inquiry:

And We Declare that, in carrying out this Our Commission, the standards to which you shall have regard as the standards of a fair society are—

— dignity and self-determination for individuals, families, and communities;

— maintenance of a standard of living sufficient to ensure that everybody can participate in and have a sense of belonging to the community;

— genuine opportunity for all people, of whatever age, race, gender, social or economic position or abilities to develop their own potential;

— a fair distribution of the wealth and resources of New Zealand including access to the resources which contribute to social wellbeing;

— acceptance of the identity and cultures of different peoples within the community, and understanding and respect for cultural diversity.

And We Further Declare that, in carrying out this Our Commission, you shall have regard to the social and economic foundations of New Zealand, namely,—

— democracy based on freedom and equal rights;

— adherence to the rule of law;

— collective responsibility of New Zealand society for its members with continuing roles for individuals, families, voluntary social groups, ethnic and tribal affiliations and other communities as well as local and central government;

— the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi;

— the operation of a mixed economy with private, co-operative and public activity;

— the responsibility which all people have to be independent and self-reliant to the best of their ability and to contribute to society;

— a commitment to the children of New Zealand and regard for the future generations of New Zealand;

— the equality of men and women, and the equality of all races;

And We hereby appoint you, the said The Right Honourable Sir Ivor LLOYD MORGAN RICHARDSON, to be the Chairman of the said Commission:

And for the better enabling you to carry these presents into effect you are hereby authorised and empowered, subject to the provisions of this Our Warrant, to make and conduct any inquiry or investigation under these presents in such manner and at such time and place as you think expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and from place to place as you think fit, and so that these presents shall continue in force and any such inquiry may at any time or place be resumed although not regularly adjourned from time to time or from place to place:

And you are hereby required, in carrying these presents into effect,—

— To consult widely, in ways which show regard for the dignity of individuals, of Maori and other ethnic groups, and other social groups, and for the modes of communication to which they are accustomed;

— To adopt procedures which encourage people to participate in your proceedings;

— To draw upon the findings of reviews such as those by the Ministerial Advisory Committee on a Maori Perspective for the Department of Social Welfare, the Task Forces on Income Maintenance and Social Welfare Delivery, the Health Benefits Review Team and the Officials Review of the Accident Compensation Scheme;

— To conduct research through your secretariat and through contracts with independent researchers and Government departments:

And you are hereby empowered, in carrying these presents into effect, to prepare and publish discussion papers from time to time on topics relevant to the inquiry:

And it is hereby declared that the powers hereby conferred shall be exercisable notwithstanding the absence at any time of any one or any two of the members hereby appointed so long as the Chairman or a member deputed by the Chairman to act in the place of the Chairman, and at least two other members, are present and concur in the exercise of the powers:

And We do further ordain that you have liberty to report your proceedings and findings under this Our Commission from time to time if you shall judge it expedient to do so:

And, using all due diligence, you are required to report to His Excellency the Governor-General in writing under your hands, not later than the 30th day of September 1988, your findings and opinions on the matters aforesaid, together with such recommendations as you think fit to make in respect thereof:

And, lastly, it is hereby declared that these presents are issued under the authority of the Letters Patent of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second constituting the office of Governor-General