Ngati Toa people wanting to buy a home are benefiting from a special deal struck between the iwi and the Crown.
The lower North Island tribe has been offered three houses and two sections that belong at present to the Transport Agency.
As part of the iwi's Treaty settlement, property the Crown wishes to sell is first offered to Ngati Toa.
Under the First Right of Refusal clause, the runanga was offered but declined the opportunity to purchase the property in Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington.
Ngati Toa says the houses and sections were not needed for its property portfolio.
However, the runanga has offered the land and homes to tribal members and whanau say they want to buy.
Ngati Toa says it is helping a number of families who want a property before the deadline to buy expires.
The runanga says it hopes to offer more houses to descendants in the future.
The First Right of Refusal clause features in a number of Treaty settlements.
