Two iwi groups are said to be feeling disenfranchised and burned, after losing a legal bid to stop an international company buying 16 New Zealand dairy farms in the central North Island.
Affiliates of Ngati Rereahu and Tuwharetoa were part of a wider group which on Wednesday failed to convince the Court of Appeal that the Shanghai Pengxin Group does not have enough business experience.
The challenge was brought by the Crafar Farms Independent Purchaser Group.
A spokesperson, Alan McDonald, says the legal loss is a blow.
He says the group is disappointed that New Zealand land can be sold off to foreign companies who have deep pockets and a bit of business knowledge and not necessarily in farming.
Mr McDonald says the iwi groups are considering their next move.
