Final answer:
New Zealand disagreed with and refused to sign the UNDRIP due to concerns about provisions related to decision-making, political and economic systems, land ownership, and redress.
Step-by-step explanation:
New Zealand disagreed with and refused to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) because of four provisions that they found problematic:
- Article 19, which states that indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making affecting their rights and interests. New Zealand has reservations about how this provision could affect their existing legal and constitutional framework.
- Article 20, which recognizes the right of indigenous peoples to maintain and develop their political, economic, and social systems or institutions. New Zealand is concerned that this provision could impinge on their sovereignty.
- Article 26, which affirms that indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop, and control the lands, territories, and resources they possess by traditional ownership or other traditional means. New Zealand has reservations about the potential impact on their existing land laws and property rights systems.
- Article 28, which stipulates that indigenous peoples have the right to redress for lands, territories, and resources that have been confiscated, taken, occupied, or damaged without their free, prior, and informed consent. New Zealand has concerns about the retrospective nature of this provision and its potential impact on past land transactions and settlements.
Learn more about UNDRIP