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March 06, 2026
#regional: Rawiri Waititi Raises Concerns Over Middle East Conflict and Māori Governance Changes
Dale Husband
Posted On March 6, 2026
Download AudioTe Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi is calling for stronger scrutiny of international conflicts and domestic policy changes, warning that both global instability and shifts in Māori governance structures could have far-reaching consequences.
Waititi says the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran is raising serious humanitarian concerns, particularly in relation to reports of civilian casualties during early military strikes.
Among the reports emerging from the region are accounts of schoolchildren and education staff being killed during the initial stages of the conflict. Waititi says such incidents highlight the human cost of escalating military action and underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives during armed conflict.
He believes New Zealand has a responsibility to speak clearly on international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians when conflicts intensify.
The Middle East crisis is also raising broader questions about how global conflicts are reported and understood in Aotearoa. Waititi says there are concerns that the full scale of humanitarian impacts, particularly those affecting vulnerable populations such as children, are not always receiving sufficient attention in public discussions.
For Waititi, the situation highlights the need for transparency and accurate reporting so communities can understand the consequences of international military actions and the responsibilities of governments responding to them.
New Zealand’s role in international conflicts has long been shaped by its support for multilateral diplomacy and international law. Waititi says maintaining that stance is important when civilian lives and human rights are at risk.
At the same time, Waititi has also raised concerns about developments closer to home, particularly proposals that would remove the supervisory role of the Māori Land Court over post-settlement governance entities.
The Government has indicated it is considering legislative changes that would allow settlement entities to opt out of parts of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act, shifting dispute resolution from the Māori Land Court to the High Court.
Waititi says the proposal raises questions about how the rights of iwi members, hapū and whānau will be protected if oversight mechanisms are weakened.
The Māori Land Court has historically played an important role in overseeing matters relating to Māori land and governance, providing a forum that incorporates tikanga and is generally more accessible than mainstream courts.
Critics of the proposed changes argue that shifting disputes to the High Court could create barriers for individuals seeking to challenge decisions involving large settlement entities.
For Waititi, the issue goes beyond legal procedure and speaks to the broader question of how Māori collective assets and governance structures are protected in the years ahead.
As debate continues on both the international stage and within New Zealand’s political landscape, Waititi says the central theme remains the protection of rights-whether those rights relate to civilians caught in global conflict or to Māori communities safeguarding their assets and governance systems at home.
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