East Coast residents are concerned the inquiry into woody debris won't amount to much, Hekia Parata and the inquiry panel are hosting a series of huis along the coast.
On Wednesday, they met in Gisborne where one man asked if it was just another talk fest.
Gisborne beaches are a lot cleaner than they were a month ago, but work is still being done to clear the slash that destroyed them.
And just next door a meeting was held to discuss that very thing.
"Woody debris of which pine slash is the major proportion but is not alone," said Parata.
The hui is one of several community along the coast, a chance for the locals to raise their concerns.
"Don't get me wrong I don't dislike trees but in the right place," said one local.
Some made it clear where their frustration lies.
"It's almost criminal. We don't want to point fingers at anybody but it is slash," said another local.
"If I make a mess on my section, I don't look around throw it to my neighbour," said another.
"A lot of us are paying for the forestry companies wrecking our roads."
Though some at the hui worry inquiry won't actually change anything.
"Is this just going to be another talkfest?" asked another local.
"Because everybody has had enough," said another.
One local says action is needed now and it has to be "real".
"Because we want this land to last."
The Government won't be bound by the inquiry's recommendations, though the Cyclone Minister - while visiting Hawke's Bay on Wednesday - promises they are listening.
"Standing around me is half a dozen ministers and members of parliament, we are listening every single day," said Grant Roberston.
Inquiry chair Parata, a former minister, hopes that's true.
"We intend to make the best implementable recommendations that we can."
As do the people of Gisborne.
"Most inquiries get washed out the door.. and they don't come back but the thing is with climate change and stiff like that we have to make a change.. because if we don't we ain't gonna be here to worry bout it," said local resident Lowen Vercoe.
The recommendations will be handed to the Government by the end of April.
