A lawyer with links to Ngati Whakaue is helping an American tribe fight the construction of an oil pipeline near its reservation.
Kingi Snelgar, a Maori indigenous rights lawyer, is on the ground at Standing Rock. Mr Snelgar said he became involved with the Sioux Tribe's protest against a North Dakota oil pipeline which would run close to the Standing Rock reservation.
He said the role he has taking on was that of a human rights observer.
He said that involved going to actions and observing the protectors in action and how they interacted with police and just being an observer to ensure that they remained safe.
He said seeing images of people being arrested for protecting the water spurred him to get involved.