A delay in a deed of settlement has held up moving an ancestral meeting house from the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, back to Poverty Bay.
The Rongowhakaata iwi was to sign the settlement of its Treaty claims at the Wellington museum on Friday, but the Crown had not completed the process and needed more time to notify other government agencies.
The tribe's negotiator, Willie Te Aho, says the Crown has confirmed in the deed that Te Hau Ki Turanga does belong to the iwi, but it will continue to work with Te Papa over its maintenance.
He says although the settlement package has been finalised, the deferral until 20 July will give the iwi more time consult with members about the Crown's offer.
Mr Te Aho says Rongowhakaata will use the extra time to iron out any last-minute issues before they put pen to paper.
He says the signing will take place at Te Papa in front of their ancestral meeting house that was confiscated by the Crown in 1867.
