To the House of Representatives:

We, the undersigned, call on the New Zealand Government to introduce legislation that prevents parole conditions, court orders, or government policies from banning Māori from accessing their own rohe (ancestral lands and territories), unless there is an immediate and demonstrable threat to public safety that cannot be mitigated in any other way.

 Across Aotearoa, Māori are being banned from their ancestral lands by state orders — trespass notices, bail conditions, or parole restrictions — despite the land being central to who they are. These decisions are often made without consultation with iwi or consideration of tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.

We believe:

It is a breach of natural justice and tino rangatiratanga to ban Māori from their rohe;
Connection to land and whānau is a protective factor in rehabilitation and reducing reoffending;
Any restriction on movement must be culturally informed, time-limited, and evidence-based.

We ask Parliament to:

Enact a law protecting the right of Māori to remain connected to their rohe, especially post-release;
Ensure parole and bail conditions are not used to sever Māori from their iwi or whenua without iwi consultation and strict oversight;
Embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in justice system decisions affecting Māori movement and connection.