Who’s The Boss
Do you know who the boss of the world is? I think God is the boss because he created the whole world. God is the boss because he was the first one born in the whole world.
Helen Clark is the boss because she is the Prime Minister of New Zealand. New Zealand gets a new Prime Minister every 4 years.
Who is the Boss in New Zealand ? The people, because they elect and give to their elected members of parliament and the Prime Minister power to be the Boss. That is until they elect a new government.
What are the rights of the people under their Bill of Rights?
The Bill of Rights
1 Life and Security of the Person
You have the right not to be deprived of life subjected to torture, cruel treatment or punishment subjected to medical or scientific experimentation. You have the right to refuse medical treatment.
2 Democratic and Civil Rights
You have the right to freedom of expression freedom of peaceful assembly freedom of association
• freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief.
As a New Zealand citizen over 18 you have the right to vote and to be a Member of Parliament.
So long as you are lawfully in New Zealand you have the right to freedom of movement and
residence in New Zealand.
You have the right to practise your own religion or beliefs.
3 Non-Discrimination and Minority Rights
You have the right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sex, marital status, religious belief, ethical belief, colour, race, ethnic or national origins, disability, age, political opinion, employment status, family status, and sexual orientation. If you belong to an ethnic, religious, or linquistic minority you must not be denied the right to enjoy the culture or practise the religion or use the language of that minority.
4 Search, Arrest, and Detention
You have the right not to be subjected to unreasonable search or seizure, arbitrary arrest or detention. If you are arrested or detained under the law you have the right to be told of the reasons for your arrest or detention • consult and instruct a lawyer and be told of that right • remain silent and be told of that right • challenge the lawfulness of your arrest or detention in court • be charged promptly or be released • be brought before a court as soon as possible, if not released. If you are charged with an offence you have the right to be told promptly of the nature of the charge • be released unless there is just cause for detention • adequate time and facilities to prepare a defence
• trial by jury if the penalty includes more than 3 months imprisonment • free legal assistance if the interests of justice require and you do not have sufficient means • free assistance of an interpreter if required.
5 Criminal Procedure
If you are charged with an offence you have the right to a minimum standard of criminal procedure
which includes the right to • be tried without undue delay • not be forced to be a witness or to confess guilt • be presumed innocent until proven guilty • a fair trial and to attend your own trial
• present a defence and cross-examine witnesses • appeal to a higher court against conviction and
sentence. You are not liable to conviction for anything that was not an offence at the time it occurred. If you are convicted, pardoned, or acquitted of an offence you must not be tried or punished for the same offence again.
6 Right to Justice
If your rights may be affected by a decision of a tribunal or public authority you have the right to
• a fair hearing by an unbiased decision-maker • apply for judicial review of that decision. You have the right to bring civil proceedings against, and defend civil proceedings brought by the Crown
in the same way as civil proceedings between individuals.
