A spokesperson for the Minister for Treaty Settlements says dissenting members of Ngapuhi patched up some of their disagreements after a meeting at the Beehive.
An official in the Chris Finlayson's office says both main factions at the meeting on Friday agreed on the need for unity.
Northland-based Ngapuhi is the country's biggest tribe and has been split over how to settle its treaty grievance with the Crown.
The spokesperson says the two sides agreed on a need to involve the Waitangi Tribunal and to work together.
The dispute emerged when Ngapuhi chairman Sonny Tau said a referendum result, in which 76% who voted were in favour of settling the claim by direct negotiation with the Crown, was justification for the right to proceed with the claim.
Dissenting hapu said only a small fraction of Ngapuhi voted, and the Crown should not accept the result.
Ngapuhi is not just the largest iwi, with 123,000 members, but the poorest, and half its members are under 18.
Its treaty settlement is expected to total $160million to $170 million.
