The UN declared 1995 to be the ‘Year of Tolerance’. In a number of the activities of the Institute of Policy Studies in relation to its social policy programme, the point has been made that increased diversity of New Zealand society and an increase in the range of New Zealand’s international contacts points to a need for a greater degree of tolerance. The Wellington Branch of the United Nations Association and the Institute therefore decided to mark the UN Year of Tolerance with a roundtable discussion of issues of tolerance in New Zealand. The title, ‘tolerance’, reflected a decision within the United Nations. Some participants found it much too passive a concept and wanted to focus on an active promotion of social justice. There are, however, different views of what constitutes ‘social justice’, and the seminar produced a lively discussion with the central themes of diversity and justice.

This book is an account of the discussion. The papers are:

• Introduction (GR Hawke)
• Tolerance and Human Rights: Emerging Trends, Issues and Questions (Chris Tremewan)
• Political Tolerance (Margaret Clark)
• Ethnic Tolerance (Tala Cleverley)
• Religious Tolerance (John Hinchcliff)
• The United Nations, New Zealand, and Tolerance (Paul Morris)