A High Court decision released earlier this year saw a trust for an iwi that has settled its historical Treaty of Waitangi grievances argue that its settlement did not prevent it from being heard before the Waitangi Tribunal.

The trust had sought to be heard regarding another iwi’s application for resumption of land over which the iwi represented by the trust asserts mana whenua.

The initial decision of the Tribunal not to allow the trust to be heard was quashed by the Court, and the trust’s application to be heard was to be considered afresh.

The case indicates that the door may still be open for iwi whose historical grievances have been settled to be heard before the Tribunal when it comes to land over which they have customary authority.