The Foreign Affairs minister says New Zealand was not given any advance notice of the attack on Iran, and has again urged New Zealanders to leave if it is safe to do so.
The United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran, with Iranian State media confirming the strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The New Zealand government said the US and Israel's actions were "designed to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security," and condemnded Iran's retaliatory attacks on Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
It also called for a "resumption of negotiations and adherence to international law," urging the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution that "returns Iran to the community of nations."
Speaking at the Defence Force base at Auckland's Whenuapai on Sunday, Winston Peters said all sorts of people would want to "pontificate" on the attack, but the rule of law needed to be enforced.
Winston Peters speaking at the Whenuapai Airbase. Photo: RNZ/Paris Ibell
"Iran has been a promoter of terrorism in countless theatres for decades now. That's not an excuse for what you've seen. But it is an explanation," he said.
It was "premature" to talk about what New Zealand would do if things escalated, Peters said.
"Let's see what we're dealing with. We're doing our best to talk to our international partners and other collaborators around the world."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade had told New Zealanders in the region to shelter in place, and to follow the advice of local authorities and register on SafeTravel.
Peters said there were around 34 to 38 New Zealanders registered in Iran, but there would be "many more."
The government has long told New Zealanders in Iran to leave, a message Peters reiterated if people were able to do so.
"It will be very difficult in the risky cities. But if you're out in the countryside and can get away, give it a go. Otherwise, try and say safe, stay inside, and we'll see how things develop. But it's very, very difficult for us, this far away from personal circumstances to tell people what to do," he said.
"Mind you, we've been telling them for weeks to get ready, just in case this happened. Maybe next time, listen to the government of New Zealand, who does care what their future might be."
A repatriation flight was possible, "if it comes to that," but it was too risky at the moment.
"We'll do our best that we can, but we are a long, long way from this conflict. Way out in the south west Pacific. Let's not get too rushed trying to be involved here."
New Zealand exports 'likely' to be impacted
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), said the conflict in the Middle East was "very concerning" for New Zealand exporters.
Special agricultural trade envoy Nathan Guy said exports to Europe and the UK must often travel though the region, especially Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which had been hit by retaliatory Iranian strikes.
"This is a very important hub up in the Middle East for our exporters to get around the world," he said.
"Exporters will be looking at this with a great deal of concern wondering about shipping routes, wondering about the price of oil and the global disruption that this will cause."
The cancellation of flights across the region would also have a "massive impact internationally and that will flow right through to our exporters here in New Zealand", Guy said.
MFAT would provide briefings to exporters, once the conflict's impact became clear.
"Right now, information is quite fluid, so we need cool heads. We need to just work our way through this as the advice unfolds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, indeed, customers that exporters have in this region.
Dairy, red meat and horticulture product exports would likely be impacted.
Guy added global oil prices would likely be significantly impacted, but he would not speculate on how much.
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