Contact the Commission to tell them about your complaint. The Commission may ask you to put your complaint in writing if the dispute is complicated or long-term, or if putting it in writing would help to resolve the dispute.

Human Rights Act 1993, s 77, 85–87

The Commission will first try to help you resolve the problem yourself. If that doesn’t work, the Commission has a team of mediators who are available to help resolve disputes. A mediator is an impartial person who doesn’t act for either side in a dispute, but who tries instead to help the parties talk through the issues and come to an agreed settlement.

The mediator from the Commission will try to resolve the problem informally and, if that’s not successful, through mediation between you and the other person or organisation. Mediation is free and confidential. Anything that either side says during mediation can’t be used later on – for example, if the dispute goes to the Human Rights Review Tribunal. Both sides are strongly encouraged not to talk publicly about the mediation process.

No, but you can have one if you wish.

Human Rights Act 1993, s 83

A possible outcome of mediation may be that the other person will:

• apologise to you
• promise not to repeat the discrimination
• attend an education programme
• pay you money as compensation.

Human Rights Act 1993, ss 84, 92B

If your complaint can’t be resolved with the Commission’s help, you can take it to the Office of Human Rights Proceedings or you can go to the Human Rights Review Tribunal.