"Business and Human Rights", 7 Feb 2017

… Unprecedented levels of transparency… affect the ‘social license to operate’ for almost every business. Fundamental to such license is the…consideration…of human rights…However, it is not as yet a common-place term in the New Zealand business community, nor are the processes to deliver such diligence widely practiced…[Recent news however] suggest[s] a lack of awareness by parts of the New Zealand business community in respect of preventative human rights measures. The fundamental frameworks relating to business and human rights are now well-accepted globally. The United Nations Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights…provides benchmarks for companies… [and] apart from the obvious benefits of implementing [them] becoming a human rights compliant business [also] makes sense financially and mitigates other potential risks…Human Rights diligence [is] not only…a prudent precautionary practice for every commercial entity, but also as a critical facet of competitive and marketing strategies…The bottom line is that becoming a human rights respecting business is win-win…[Refers to NZ Super Fund]