Hapū say an emergency meeting with the Minister of Regional Development was "productive" after feeling excluded from conversations on the future of Mount Ruapehu's ski fields.
Cabinet is expected to decide on a proposal from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's (MBIE) regional development unit Kānoa to split the mountain and have a private group run Whakapapa, and another bidder run Tūroa.
Minister Kiri Allan held an emergency meeting with local representatives on Sunday night, who are fed up with what they're calling backroom deals and a lack of consultation.
Representatives of around a dozen hapū, who reside at the foot of the maunga have warned they may consider a high court injunction if MBIE pushes ahead.
However, Te Patu-tokotoko representative Hayden Turoa told AM co-host Ryan Bridge the meeting with Minister Allan was "really great" and "productive".
"At the heart of the kōrero is a shared commitment and need to see that our maunga is taken care of, our community is prospering and local businesses are prospering."
Ruapehu Ski Fields Stakeholders Association spokesperson Sam Clarkson told AM conversations and consultation should have taken place from the start.
"It's all just a bit too late. That said, we can have the season up and running straight away with a pragmatic agreement and that's what we're seeking," Clarkson said.
Turoa said "we want this ski season to go ahead" and agreed that pragmatic solutions are needed to move forward.
"A bigger conversation is needed and I think there's a commitment from the minister who understands the gravity of the situation."
Turoa told AM there was "recognition" at Sunday's meeting that "the process has been poor".
Turoa believes the wider population of Aotearoa doesn't "fully appreciate" the maunga's history and wants to see better protection rights over the name of the Tūroa slope.
"At the moment the Ruaoehu Alpine Lifts held a trademark over the Tūroa name and we think there's an opportunity to have that trademark returned to the whanau, hapū and iwi so we can actually care and protect for our identity."
In a statement to AM, Minister Allan said the Government is working on the best outcome for the ski fields to open this winter, but said the decision lies with the voluntary administrator.
A spokesperson for MBIE said it's working and consulting with iwi on the future of the ski fields and said information relating to the commercial process is "sensitive and confidential".
A watershed meeting is being held on June 20 for all creditors, including lifepass holders.
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