A hapu collective opposing a major roading project in Rotorua is on Wednesday sitting down to talk to the city's new mayor about the route.
Three Te Arawa hapu who are part of the Rotorua Positive Environment Society, are meeting officials from the Rotorua District Council, the Transport Agency and engineers.
For some time the society has been trying to block the option of building a new road closer to Lake Rotorua, partly because of concerns it would ruin traditional places.
Selwyn Insley, a spokesperson for one of the hapu, Hurunga Te Rangi, says the meeting with the mayor, Steve Chadwick, and the council's new chief executive, Geoff Williams, is progress.
Mr Insley says the society can bring their ideas about roading plans as well as hear why there are no other viable alternatives to the road being laid closer to the lake.
