The New Zealand Maori Council says unresolved claims to water and subsurface resources could stymie National's plans to partly sell state assets after the election.
Spokesperson Maanu Paul says the council will seek a meeting with the Government about the likely obstacles to selling a stake in the state owned energy companies.
He says the issues which caused the 1980s Labour Government to curtail its privatisation plans, are still live.
Mr Paul said the Government may have to look at the settlements the Maori Council and iwi partners achieve with regards to fisheries, state forests and radio spectrum, to clear the way for partial sales.
