Future decisions on the management of Mauao, or Mount Maunganui, are to be split 50-50 between Tauranga City Council and three local iwi.
They're setting up a new joint decision-making body to address issues such as whether any commercial activities should be allowed on the historic reserve.
The body, which is yet to named, will include four iwi representatives from the Mauao Trust Board and four from the council.
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby says this type of partnership isn't new to the council, but was inspired by the iwi-council co-governance arrangement for the Waikato River.
He says the council has been developing a proactive relationship with iwi for many years and this will put them in good stead for the future once numerous treaty claims are settled, which also may develop into more co-governance arrangements of various historical sites around the city.
Mr Crosby says the city council has looked at other partnership models.
He says this one was based around the Waikato River model of joint governance and administration between the Waikato Regional Council and Tainui tribes.
Public access to Mauao is guaranteed under the joint administration.
