Maori have mana over the foreshore and seabed, a representative from the iwi Ngati Toa Rangatira has told a hui.
Attorney-General Chris Finlayson is half way through a nationwide series of meetings seeking feedback on plans to review the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.
The Government is negotiating with Maori leaders about what might replace the contentious act which focuses on the ownership and administration of New Zealand's foreshore and seabed.
Under the Government's proposal, the current law would be repealed, bringing to an end Crown ownership.
Instead the foreshore and seabed would become public domain land, administered by a combination of the Crown, local authorities and iwi.
Maori interests could be established either by direct negotiations with the Crown or through the courts.
About 120 people attended the meeting at Takapuwahia Marae in Porirua near Wellington on Friday.
Mr Finlayson told those gathered the Foreshore and Seabed Act is divisive and the issue has continued to fester.
Ngati Toa elder and president of the Maori Party Whatarangi Winiata says the act may have stripped Maori of ownership, but they will always have mana (authority or power) over the foreshore and seabed.
"This hui declared the mana is with us, although the minister said that was taken away with the 2004 legislation. The ownership was declared to be Crown, but there's no legislation that can take the mana away."
Mr Winiata says Mr Finlayson responded well to questions raised by the iwi.
