Trustee Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie is pushing for former MP John Tamihere to temporarily replace him at the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.
The organisation is poised to make a key decision on whether to fund a series of Treaty claims.
But as a trustee, Sir Edward has declared a conflict of interest; his wife Donna Hall is one of the lawyers representing some claimants in Northland.
Another Maori representative has been selected to act for him.
But Sir Edward says that person does not represent his views so he's asked the High Court to intervene and make a directive.
He says he understands there is a "bucketful' of replacements but the one filling in in his role has a different point of view.
