A person who belongs to an ethnic, religious, or linguistic minority in New Zealand shall not be denied the right, in community with other members of that minority, to enjoy the culture, to profess and practise the religion, or to use the language of, that minority.
This provision is about protecting cultural identity – in particular the culture, religion, and language of minority groups.
Section 20, is part of a wider framework affirming that diversity and cultural identity are things to be respected, not suppressed. It’s about ensuring diversity is respected and that smaller communities can thrive without being swallowed by the majority.
It doesn’t single out Māori, but it clearly includes them. Māori, as tangata whenua and as a distinct cultural and linguistic group, are protected by this right to use te reo Māori and to practise their culture. At the same time, Māori rights are also recognised more deeply through Te Tiriti o Waitangi and other laws.