The Human Rights Commission says it is leading a project with its National Preventive Mechanism partners to review seclusion and restraint policies and practices in New Zealand.

The Commission says it has repeatedly raised concerns under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture about the way Government agencies detain some New Zealanders, including the use of seclusion and restraint.

"International monitoring bodies have also raised some discrepancies in the way seclusion and restraint policies and practices are implemented in New Zealand," it says.

The project will identify best practice and policy, both in New Zealand and internationally, and will result in a report that the Commission says will help guide New Zealand's seclusion and restraint policies practices in future.  

Seclusion practices expert Sahron Shalev will assist the Commission and will visit New Zealand for three weeks in October and November 2016, when she will visit detention facilities.

The Commission is inviting submissions and information before 18 October 2016.