UPDATED 1.16PM: A Maori television news crew will return to New Zealand tomorrow after they were detained by Israeli authorities.

Ruwani Perera and camera operator Jacob Bryant of Maori Television were arrested yesterday on board a boat seeking to reach Gaza to highlight the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory. 

Their return has been confirmed by Maori TV news head Maramena Roderick.

She reports both have been treated well by local authorities.

The Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand claimed the Israelis were completely within their right to detain "militants" on board a 'freedom flotilla' to Gaza. 

Listen to Israel's Ambassador to New Zealand Yousef Livne speak with Mike Hosking above

They pair were on board as observers, not participants. 

Navy commandos took over the ship and escorted it to one of Israel's ports.

Ambassador Yosef Livne told Newstalk ZB the action was done in accordance with international law, and is backed by a committee of the UN Secretary General.

"The whole trip was initiated by pro-Palestinian militants around the world. Its purpose was political to embarrass [Israel]," he said.

"We are trying to impose a blockade and prevent smuggling of arms into Gaza," he said, referring to the Islamist Hamas group which has political control of the area. 

The operation to detain the flotilla riders did not use force, Livne said. "We have no intention of causing a loss of life."

International law Professor Al Gillespie believes ethically, there's a humanitarian argument to raise the Gaza blockade, but the legal situation is a different matter.

"Legally, Israel is completely within its rights to actually stop the flotilla, or anyone for that matter, from trying to reach those shores. It is, ostensibly, Israeli territory."

"I think Israel has learnt from previously with regards to the last flotilla, and they're trying a much softer approach," he said.

Gillespie claims Israel will also be balancing that softness with a desire to deter others from similar attempts.

In 2010, nine civilian activists were killed by the Israeli military attempting to breach the blockade of Gaza by sea and provide humanitarian assistance to the area. 

Roger Fowler, of the solidarity group Kia Ora Gaza, has written an open letter to Foreign Minister Murray McCully "and asked him to register protest with the Israeli authorities and ask them to release the boat and the passengers and allow them safe passage to their destination."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade released a statement yesterday saying it told the journalists to heed travel advice, which advises against all travel to Gaza due to the threat from kidnapping, acts of terrorism and potential for retaliatory military operations.

It also strongly advises against any attempt to enter Gaza by sea, including participation in flotillas to deliver aid.

Meanwhile, New Zealand will up one of the most powerful posts in the world this week, chairing the United Nation Security Council in New York.

Prime Minister John Key would like to see a jump start of the peace process between Israel and Palestine.

"New Zealand's been a long term advocate of the two state solution," Key said. "It's a very important part of the world, and while I accept it's a big challenge to find peace between Israel and Palestine, the prize is so significant it's got to be worth it if we can."