Reports
Waikato Regional Report - National Conversation about Work
The Waikato region has been hit by job losses and a shrinking labour force but has avoided massive redundancies in the recession. Many we met with remain buoyant about the local economy and work. Read what they told us. 
Hawke's Bay Regional Report - National Conversation about Work
The deaf community in Hawke's Bay are concerned about access to decent work in the region. Read what they say in the National Conversation about Work regional report 
Gisborne Regional Report - National Conversation about Work
Lower rates of pay and long work hours dominate the employment landscape in the Gisborne region. Forestry, horticulture and food manufacturing mean high rates of seasonal and casual work, that leads to greater uncertainty for many employees. Learn about Gisborne's work issues from what participants told us. 
Hawke's Bay Regional Report - National Conversation about Work
Bay of Plenty - National Conversation about Work
Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman Regional Report 30 July 2009 30 July 2009 National Conversation about Work - New Zealand Army 29 April 2009 29 April 2009 The Commission met with 23 personnel from HMNZS Philomel - Devonport Naval Base in Auckland. Three meetings were held with base Commanders, Officers and Ratings, 10 of whom were women and 13 men. These Wellington Regional Report 17 March 2009
Migrant workers' issues and rights were a key focus of the discussions the Human Rights Commission�s team held as part of its National Conversation with employers and employees in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions in June. 
These top of the south regions depend largely on the four Fs: farming, forestry, fruit and fisheries. Nelson and Tasman, in particular, also have a strong tradition of arts and culture, and tourism is also a large employer. But it was through talking to people in the wine and pipfruit industries that some of the regions� unique work issues came to light, according to the HRC�s Senior Adviser for EEO, Moana Eruera.
It became clear to us that these industries could not survive without migrant workers - there simply aren�t enough people to pick the fruit or prune the vines without them�, he says. So work equity issues such as fair employment contracts need to be addressed.
The recent boom in the wine industry has led to many absentee landlords - sometimes called Queen St investors - who rely on contractors to hire in the labour they need. Unfortunately, some of them are rogue operators. Wine Marlborough and Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) contractors who talked to the Commission say the number of poor contractors is too high.
It is not the same in the pipfruit industry in the Nelson/Tasman region where some orchards are run by the 4th generation of owner operators. There, migrant labourers tend to be better integrated.
�We found workers in the pipfruit industry seemed to get better pastoral care and support,� Moana says.
The pleasant climate of the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions contributes to their lower than average salaries, the HRC team heard. This is known locally as �sunshine wages�, since the sunny lifestyle can mean people are prepared to earn less to live there.
The 3 regions have a total population of 130,071, divided quite evenly between Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman. They have more older people than the average for New Zealand, with 15% of the population aged 65 or older compared to 12% of the total population. Despite this Nelson has the lowest number of workers in the 65 plus age group of any region in New Zealand. This has prompted the Council, with the Department of Labour and the Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency, to conduct research with a group of Nelson employers and older citizens. Providing jobs so that young people can stay in the regions is also a significant challenge.
The Commission�s visit to Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman coincided with the announcement of a zero pay offer to education support workers. The support workers the HRC team spoke to were incensed about what they saw as unfairness, because money had been put aside in the budget to give caretakers and cleaners a backdated pay rise.
The Commission met with 212 employees and employers in 40 different meetings across the 3 regions, and found that the effects of the economic recession are starting to bite, with less work for people with disabilities, and a tightening of flexible work arrangements. Despite this, people overwhelmingly like their work, says Moana. �The myth that people go to work grudgingly, or only because they have to has been completely dispelled by the National Conversations so far�, he says. �People might want some changes to conditions and to be earning more, but the vast majority value their work and are not negative about it.�
Almost all staff named their relationships with work colleagues as the most satisfying thing about work.
Download a PDF copy of the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regional report
Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Report - National Conversation about Work
Incentivising EEO and diversity training in the public sector is one the recommendations identified in the Manawatu-Wanganui regional report on the National Conversation about Work produced by the Human Rights Commission. Download a copy of the PDF report here 
The Commission continues to meet with armed service personnel as part of the National Conversation about Work. In Waiouru, the New Zealand Army equity advisor Major Geoff Fox organised two groups of army personnel to talk to EEO Commissioner Dr Judy McGregor. She learnt that every unit in the Army receives an equal employment opportunities briefing each year and that there is a growing acknowledgement of the move away from equity compliance and reporting to recognising equity at all levels of a diverse army. Download a PDF copy of the report here
Taranaki Regional Report
The Commission met with 287 people in 23 different engagements and travelled a total distance of 1115 kms while in Taranaki. The following regional report is the outcome of discussions with groups in Taranaki.
New Zealand Navy
discussions highlighted a number of issues faced by the Navy around equality and fairness and general employment conditions. Download a PDF copy of the report here
29 April 2009
What they're saying at employment conferences
As part of the National Conversation about Work, Dave Stewart from Human Value, Business Consulting & HR Services 
has been asking participants at a number of national conferences:
�What would make a difference for you to achieve equality and fairness at work?� Here's what they said:
17 March 2009
West Coast Regional Report