United Nations Special Rapporteur Professor James Anaya is to visit New Zealand next week.
Prof Anaya will be in New Zealand from July 18 to July 23, to meet government ministers, iwi and other interested parties to discuss human rights and indigenous development.
His full title is United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples.
Prof Anaya will review the issues reported by his predecessor, Rodolfo Stavenhagen who visited in November 2005 to investigate whether the Foreshore and Seabed Act breached Maori rights.
He recommended the Act be repealed and a constitutional review to recognise Maori rights of self-determination based on the Treaty of Waitangi and international law.
The Government is now consulting over plans to repeal the foreshore law and prefers to legislate that no one owns it.
Following his visit, Prof Anaya will prepare a report about the situation of indigenous people in New Zealand, which will be provided to the New Zealand Government for its consideration.
"This Government remains committed to building and maintaining constructive relationships with Maori to achieve better results for Maori, which will benefit New Zealand as a whole. We welcome the UN's perspective of our country's progress," Minister of Maori Affairs Pita Sharples said.
Prof Anaya was appointed as the Special Rapporteur in 2008.
He has a background in international human rights, constitutional law and issues affecting indigenous peoples.
Prof Stavenhagen also "called on the New Zealand Government to continue to support efforts to achieve a UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples", Dr Sharples said.
After initially opposing the Declaration, the Government had now stated its support before the UN Permanent Forum of Indigenous Issues.
