A Ngapuhi claims negotiator is saddened a block of land taken under the Public Works Act more than 100 years ago will not be returned to iwi in its settlement.
Hone Sadler said the Tautoro parcel of land was taken under the act in 1911 and was sold to fund railway developments.
He has been working on the claim for his people of Ngati Moerewa since 1974.
Ngapuhi was taking steps to settle with the Crown but the block of land would sadly not be part of its redress, Mr Sadler said.
The Waitangi Tribunal would not deal with land in private ownership, which meant the only way the iwi can get it back was to buy it, he said.
