John Key

By Kate Chapman of NZPA

Wellington, June 14 NZPA - The Maori Party and iwi leaders have begun their meeting with Prime Minister John Key over replacement legislation for the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

The Government's preferred option was to put the foreshore and seabed into the public domain so no one can own it.

Maori would be able to seek customary rights through the courts, but not freehold title.

That has been rejected by the Iwi Leaders Group.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said they were going to "sit around the table and find a way forward".

Public domain was not the main issue for iwi leaders, Dr Sharples told media on the way into the meeting.

Repeal was the "No 1 thing".

There were some things in the Government's proposal that the iwi leaders were happy with but there was also "stuff which they want to bring out today".

"Our bottom line is to our people, to whom we said we want repeal," he said.

"There are so many issues that are still to be worked through."

Dr Sharples said he could not predict what the outcome of the meeting would be.

Iwi Leader Group chairman Mark Solomon said he was "always hopeful of a resolution" and would comment after the meeting.

Mr Key said National's agreement with the Maori Party was to put replacement legislation on the table and try to find something better.

He has said that if the Maori Party and Government could not come to an agreement over replacement legislation the current Foreshore and Seabed Act would remain in place.

Mr Key said he did not believe National would lose the Maori Party's support, whatever the outcome.

The meeting will be discussed by Cabinet this afternoon and Mr Key would announce any decision at his weekly post-Cabinet press conference at 4pm.