A Rotorua tribe's farming arm says it is against a boycott of AFFCO meatworks - which is locked in an industrial dispute with workers.
Ngati Whakaue says it has long-standing and on-going relations with the company, and the iwi says it is not its place to take a political stance.
Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau recently called for Maori farmers to not send their stock to the Talley-owned firm - because lockouts are causing hardship among whanau.
More than 700 of the company's 1300 meatworkers have been indefinitely locked out from plants across the North Island.
A former Ngati Whakaue Tribal Lands committee member, Malcolm Short, says Maori farmers, trusts and incorporations in his region have been looked after by AFFCO.
He says when they need to send stock for culling it is done fairly promptly and that is important in situations such as a drought.
