There's hope the country's biggest Treaty deal can move ahead quickly now a three-way settlement is being proposed to break the Ngapuhi deadlock.
The Waitangi Tribunal recommended the Crown should stop negotiations amid concerns about mandate holders Tuhoronuku.
Tuhoronuku have been shaken by questions about their finances and a Waitangi Tribunal finding about how the mandate was given.
Many hapu claimed they had been left out of the process and formed a rival group, Kotahitanga.
Co-chair Rudy Taylor has met Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson and says if they work hard, things can move forward.
"We hope to show that there's good will amongst us, and if we could set this up by February next year, I think that there's some very positive things that will come out of it.
"I think now this minister is really taking in what we've been saying. It's a three-way engagement, and he's the first to look at that in a positive way."
Mr Taylor says they'll take news of the meeting back to hapu.
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