Treaty negotiations between Tuhoe and the Crown are continuing, but the Prime Minister says any deal will not see the Maori iwi as the sole owners of Urewera National Park.
John Key says there has been speculation over the national park being vested with the people of Tuhoe, but he has told the tribe's negotiators that is not going to happen.
Mr Key has acknowledged it is unusual to make such a pronouncement while talks are still taking place, but says it is important that information in the public domain is accurate.
The Prime Minister says vesting ownership of the national park, which lies between the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay, with iwi does not fit within the boundaries of Crown settlements, and such a move would create an unacceptable precedent for future claims.
