A former Treaty Negotiations Minister believes the historic Tainui settlement could provide a new approach for addressing the foreshore and seabed issue.
The Waikato River Settlement Bill was read for the third and final time in Parliament on Thursday.
It provides for Tainui, the Crown and local government to share the commitment to cleaning up the Waikato River.
The settlement is silent on the issue of ownership, while recognising Tainui's association with the river.
Former Treaty Negotiations Minister Cullen says it's possible co-governance models could also be applied to the foreshore and seabed issue.
But ACT leader Rodney Hide says that could set a dangerous precedent.
