The Northland iwi Te Roroa says there's strong support in the region for co-governance of Waipoua kauri forest, if it becomes a National Park.
The Department of Conservation is analysing submissions on the proposal and plans to present a report on it to the July meeting of the New Zealand Conservation Authority.
It says co-governance with the iwi will be a sticking point because the National Parks Act doesn't allow it.
Te Roroa chairman Tim Reuben says it's a point the Government will have to address.
He says Te Roroa were given the right to co-manage the kauri forest with DoC, as part of their Treaty settlement - but co-governance would give tangata whenua more authority.
