Different regions are laying claim to the remains of Moko, the bottlenosed dolphin whose body was found near Tauranga on Wednesday.
Iwi of Mahia, in northern Hawke's Bay, where he first interacted with people, and of Whakatane, where he spent most of his final five months, are claiming his body.
Mahia iwi say he was named after Mokotahi Point.
The carcass was found on Matakana Island near Tauranga on Wednesday. A post-mortem is being carried out to confirm the dolphin actually is Moko, and how he died.
A decision on where the dolphin's remains should be left is expected on Monday.
