Last Updated: 26 September 2025

Tensions in New Zealand: representatives of more than 80 Maori tribes call for the British sovereign to intervene to defend their rights under the Treaty of Waitangi At a time of rising political tensions, representatives of over 80 Maori tribes have…

As tens of thousands of marchers thronged the streets in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, the column of people, flags aloft, had the air of a festival or a parade rather than a protest.

YouTube video by Stuff

YouTube video by Amnesty International

Dr Mere Kepa says the $227m project stands on ancestral Te Parawhau land.

Dr Mere Kepa says the $227m project stands on ancestral Te Parawhau land.

Māori MPs suspended after haka protest in NZ Parliament, fueling national debate on Indigenous rights and cultural respect.

Members of a Northland iwi have sailed to the Poor Knights Islands to raise a flag and erect a carved pou in protest at amendments to the Marine and Coastal Area Act.

Indigenous Maori in Aotearoa New Zealand are currently facing multiple attacks on their rights and wellbeing by the ruling conservative coalition government, led by the National party, reports Zara

The Labour Party contends that the government's decision to revoke council agreements with local Māori will lead to extensive relitigation of existing Treaty settlements.

The New Zealand government's proposed reforms to nature protection laws have sparked fierce opposition from environmental groups and the outdoor recreation sector. Key changes include reassigning the Department of Conservation (DOC) to focus on economic opportunities, sidelining the New Zealand Conservation Authority and regional boards as advisory bodies, and granting the minister broad powers to advance development agendas. Critics argue these reforms risk undermining conservation values, particularly the 'fortress conservation' model that prioritises preserving pristine landscapes over human activity. The reforms also raise concerns about Māori rights, as they may infringe on unresolved legal claims over ancestral lands. While the government claims the changes are necessary for modernising conservation, advocates stress the need to balance development with environmental protection and Māori sovereignty. Legal innovations like granting legal personhood to natural landmarks, such as the Whanganui River, are seen as models for equitable conservation, but the current reforms threaten to erode these progressions. The debate highlights tensions between European conservation values and Indigenous perspectives, with calls for a relational approach that integrates human and natural systems.