Lawyer Denise Henare has been selected as a stand-in Maori representative at the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.
She is able to act as a replacement - or alternate - to Maanu Paul, the co-chair of the Maori Council.
Ms Henare is the wife of former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp.
Under trust rules, Maori members are appointed by the Maori Council and the Federation of Maori Authorities.
Meanwhile, a bigger issue at the trust remains unresolved.
Talks continue within the trust over whether Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie should step aside as a trustee over a claim of a conflict of interest.
Crown Forestry Rental Trust provides money to claimants to prepare, present and negotiate Treaty claims.
Its money is drawn from rental fees for licences to use Crown forest licensed lands.
