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Race Relations Commissioner Joris De Bres - Source: ONE News -
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Plans in the pipeline could see an end to the title of race relations commissioner.
The title has been part of the Human Rights Commission since 2002 but could be abolished under an amendment to the Human Rights Act introduced to Parliament at the end of last year.
It would see the race relations commissioner's duties carried out by a human rights commissioner.
The Greens are said to be nervous about the idea of "generic" commissioners.
"We thought the bill was about establishing a disability commissioner, which is what I fought for," Green MP Catherine Delahunty told the Dominion Post.
Delahunty was concerned the bill was becoming more of an entire review of the Human Rights Commission and the public should be consulted.
And Labour MP Rajen Prasad said he would be asking his caucus to oppose the change, saying that the country needs an independent commissioner.
New Zealand's current race relations commissioner Joris de Bres said he will stand against the change through the submissions process.
De Bres, whose term ends in September, told the Dominion Post he was concerned the change would reduce the visibility and independence of the office.
The amendment would mean the commissioner would become subject to the chief human rights commissioner and the change would be seen negatively by many minority communities, he said.
But Justice and Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins said commissioners lack flexibility under old legislation to deal with the wide range of issues in society.
"The leadership role the commission has in protecting and promoting race relations and equal employment opportunities will remain the same. There will still be fulltime commissioners leading these areas of work," she told the paper.
