The trustees of Te Rakato marae on Mahia Peninsula in Northern Hawke's Bay, have failed in a bid to overturn resource consents for a sewerage and roading project.
The trustees appealed to the Environment Court after consent was granted for the project, arguing consideration of indigenous land rights.
They also claimed the Wairoa District Council's consultation process was adequate.
The court has found that mana whenua over the land in question, is shared by all the hapu of Mahia.
It says it accepts that tangata whenua find the disposal of effluent to land generally acceptable, rather than to water.
But it says the Council put considerable effort into ensuring information about the project was widely distributed.
It dismissed the appeal, saying those with mana whenua had ample opportunity to be involved in the development of options and cultural protocols.
