The people of Te Arawa want a local council iwi advisory committee to decide if the mayor of Rotorua should continue to be the group's chairperson.
Te Arawa Standing Committee was formed in 1993 and at that stage kaumatua decided that the district mayor should sit at the head of the forum.
Earlier this year some members said they felt the role should be filled by an iwi descendant.
That notion's been supported by the people in a decision made at a hui-a-iwi or annual general meeting at Te Papaiouru marae last month.
The meeting was hosted by Te Arawa Lake's Trust.
Its chairperson Toby Curtis says the people say things have changed and Te Arawa, like other iwi, has become more democratic.
Dr Curtis says they want the committee to decide who's appointed to the role of chairperson.
Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters says he's looking forward to talking about the matter at a meeting for the committee on Monday.
