A north Taranaki iwi says efforts by New Plymouth District Council to take coastal land under the Public Works Act are a modern-day confiscation attempt.
The council wants the New Plymouth District Court to enforce access for surveyors to begin the Public Works Act process.
The council says it needs to own a coastal strip at Tongaporutu so it can repair a damaged foot tunnel on a public walkway.
The land is owned by Rusell and Parani Gibbs who as kaitiaki, (guardians) for the Poutama iwi, say they are obliged to protect its sacred sites.
They say survey works threaten wahi tapu and the Public Works Act application is a bid to confiscate Poutama territory.
The council says it tried repeatedly to negotiate access and cannot be held to ransom over nebulous wahi tapu claims.
