Maori artists are squaring off with Creative New Zealand over control of the Toi Iho Maori-made brand.
Waatea News reports the arts funding agency has cancelled its support of the trademark and demanded artists stop using it.
Creative NZ chief executive Stephen Wainwright and staff from Te Waka Toi this week met a delegation led by potter Manos Nathan and furniture designer Carin Wilson.
But Nga Puna Waihanga spokesperson Ata Te Kanawa says Wilson refused to give the mark back and Nathan said he would continue to use it.
Ms Te Kanawa told Waatea that artists want to run the Toi Iho mark themselves and open it to a wider range of creative arts.
