A group of claimants in Waikato is in talks with Government officials over the return of tribal land owned by the now partially-privatised energy generator Mighty River Power.
According to share documents, Ngati Koroki Kahukura wants to take back part of the whenua downstream from the Arapuni Dam near Putaruru.
Claimants were initially told that the land was Crown-owned, meaning it could be transferred to Ngati Koroki Kahukura.
But that statement was withdrawn and corrected to say that the land is in the hands of Mighty River Power.
The claimant group had earlier said it would ask for the Waitangi Tribunal to use its special, but seldom-used, powers to return the Crown land to them.
Ngati Koroki Kahukura says it's now in talks with the Treasury about its claim, but declined to discuss the issue further.
Although descendants have signed their Deed of Settlement, the agreement has not yet been legislated in Parliament.
