Ngāpuhi members who no longer live on their hapū land say they want five representatives on the central body negotiating the iwi's Treaty settlement.
The Treaty Negotiations Minister, Andrew Little, has met with hundreds of Ngāpuhi members based in Auckland this weekend to discuss the contentious claim.
Mr Little presented two possible models the Crown is proposing the settlement negotiations could follow.
A Ngāpuhi ki Tamaki representative, Mahera Maihi, said nearly 70 percent of the iwi live in urban areas, with 50,000 living in Auckland.
She said their voices needed fair representation at the negotiating table.