Supporters of Te Aute College are making a fresh attempt to resolve a historic land losses relating to the Hawke's Bay Maori boarding school's endowment.
When the school was founded in 1854, Ngati Kahungunu hapu Te Whatuiapiti gifted 7,000 acres of land, which the Crown has subsequently sold off or leased in perpetuity at peppercorn rents.
Negotiations with the previous government broke down just before the election, with the Te Aute Trust Board saying its concerns over historic losses were being ignored.
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says he received a delegation from the school community and tribal elders to reopen the talks.
He says local farmers who lease the land have become rich while the school has become poor despite owning the land.
Dr Sharples says as an old boy he might be seen to have a conflict of interest so Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson will handle the claim.