The police presence at Ihumātao in south Auckland is expected to dwindle, following tense scenes.
Demonstrators have been protesting at the site for the past few weeks, after occupiers were served an eviction notice. They say the land is sacred and want a planned housing development on the site blocked.
The protesters had been in a standoff with police ever since, with tensions peaking on Monday night. More than 60 additional officers were deployed, and protest leader Pania Newton claimed she had been pushed to the ground by an officer - something police rejected.
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Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha said on Thursday the situation had calmed enough for additional staff to be pulled, saying the two parties had resolved the issue.
"When stories run wild, I guess those things do tend to get beyond control a little bit.
"We're working hard to ensure that doesn't happen."
Later on Thursday afternoon, a media statement said specific numbers of officers at the site would remain an "operational decision" for police, and will be "determined by the ongoing situation".
"We will continue to monitor the situation and respond to issues as required, as well as work constructively with the protest organisers to achieve a peaceful outcome," police said.
Sean Plunket blasts protesters
Protesters at Ihumātao are "radical rebels" who "want the world to burn", according to MagicTalk host Sean Plunket.
Plunket said it was clear that protesters had no legal right to be there, and should leave the site immediately.
"They don't really seem to be organised in a way that you can identify who the group is and what they stand for," he said on his Wednesday show.
"They do increasingly seem to be a bunch of radical rebels and they will never get what they want because what they want to do is overthrow the system of law and governance in New Zealand."
Māori Party president Che Wilson said the Government needs to do more.
"All I have witnessed at Ihumātao is the showing of thousands of our people standing peacefully in solidarity to see the rightful recognition of Ihumātao as a heritage site."
But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday she won't visit the site.
Newshub.
