The Hawke's Bay Regional Council says it is proud to partner with local iwi to form a legislated environment committee.
The Ngati Pahauwera iwi initiated the creation of the management body, which will include Maori claimants and regional councillors.
The committee will soon be introduced as a Bill in Parliament to give it legal standing.
The regional council chairperson Fenton Wilson says it is a new and exciting concept in New Zealand, where both groups sit at the same decision-making table.
He says he is proud to have Ngati Pahauwera leader Toro Waaka as co-chair, and they are making good progress.