Te Atiawa ki Poneke, is appealing for public support in its battle to retain guardianship of a controversial waka.
The tribe is in a legal dispute with Wellington City Council, which claims ownership of Te Raukura, a waka built for the 1990 sesqui-centennial celebrations.
An open day was held on Monday at the Te Maori Cultural Centre in Lower Hutt for people to view the waka.
Spokesperson Teri Puketapu told Waatea News that the iwi hopes the council will consider a different form of ownership, rather than persist with a court case.
The trust would include representatives of the Wellington, Hutt City and Upper Hutt City Councils and three Te Atiawa marae in the region.
