Human Rights Act 1993

Human Rights Commission - Director of Human Rights Proceedings

20A: Director of Human Rights Proceedings

You could also call this:

"The person in charge of human rights cases is chosen by the Governor-General."

The Director of Human Rights Proceedings is chosen by the Governor-General. You know the Governor-General is advised by the Minister when making this choice. The Governor-General can also choose an alternate Director on the Minister's advice. The Minister can only suggest someone as an alternate Director if the current Director is unable to work. This could be because the Director is sick or away, or for another good reason. The Director might also think it is not a good idea for them to do a particular task. The Director of Human Rights Proceedings and the alternate Director have important jobs. You can find more information about the law that created these roles in the Human Rights Amendment Act 2001. This law was used to insert section 20A into the Human Rights Act on 1 January 2002.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM304432.

This page was last updated on 13 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Rights and equality > Anti-discriminationGovernment and voting > Government departments

20: Office of Human Rights Proceedings, or

"People who help with human rights cases"

20B: Criteria and requirement for appointment, or

"Who can be the Director of Human Rights Proceedings and what skills do they need?"

Part 1Human Rights Commission
Director of Human Rights Proceedings

20ADirector of Human Rights Proceedings

The Director of Human Rights Proceedings is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister.
The Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Minister, appoint as alternate Director of Human Rights Proceedings a person designated for appointment as alternate Director by the Minister.
The Minister must not designate a person for appointment as alternate Director of Human Rights Proceedings unless—
the Minister is satisfied that the Director is incapacitated by illness, absence, or other sufficient cause from performing the duties of his or her office; or
the Director considers it is not proper or desirable that the Director should perform any particular duty of his or her office.

Compare

1977 No 49 s 7B
1985 No 23 s 2

Notes

Section 20A: inserted, on 1 January 2002, by section 5 of the Human Rights Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 96).