The Maori Council says it's filling in gaps that tribal trusts can't cover, by helping Maori who are living outside their district boundary.
Former Maori Party MP Rahui Katene has recently helped revive the Maori Council in Porirua, which had been out of action for about 20 years.
Ms Katene says the organisation is important because it can assist tangata whenua with issues such as housing when they're away from their home area.
She says there are a lot of people living outside their iwi boundaries who are not being catered for by their own iwi.
Ms Katene says that, as hard as mana whenua try, they are caught up with their own iwi and are unable to help Maori living outside their tribal district.
