The Maori Party hopes any replacement of the Foreshore and Seabed Act will mean Maori do not need to take claims to court.
A review team has recommended scrapping the Act and the Government intends to repeal the legislation, as long as agreement can be reached on what to replace it with.
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says iwi will have to decide exactly what they want to see happen. And she says in an ideal world, it would not require people to go to court.
Mrs Turia says an understanding is needed in the replacement legislation that iwi and hapu have taken care of the foreshore and seabed for generations, and will continue to do so.
She says the big issue for New Zealanders is about access to the foreshore and she has not come across any iwi that is not respectful of that.
