The lawyer for a woman fighting to have her husband's body returned to Christchurch is hopeful the two families in the dispute will come to an agreement.
James Takamore's Bay of Plenty family stole his body from a Christchurch marae and took it back to be buried at the local Tuhoe family cemetery in 2007.
The Court of Appeal said on Wednesday their actions were unlawful and ordered the case back to the High Court to seek a remedy between the two families.
Gary Knight, the lawyer for James Takamore's wife, told Checkpoint of his hope the two sides would come together, following an expression of goodwill from both sides during mediation prior to the Court of Appeal hearing.
Mr Knight says going back to the High Court for an enforcement order would be a last resort.
