News articles in the New Zealand press are beginning to talk about civil rights based legal challenges to the new leadership standards in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand confirmed by last month’s General Assembly.  In summary, the New Zealand Human Rights Commission has been advised that religious groups are exempt from at least some civil rights laws.  A retired Presbyterian minister is advocating for reclassification of ministers as employees so they would fall under the civil rights laws but the denomination points out that ministers are not under contract and elders receive no pay.  Finally, the Human Rights Commission does say the religious exemption could be tested by a legal case if one is brought now that the GA has confirmed the rule.

One article about this from stuff.co.nz.