Minister for Treaty Negotiations Chris Finlayson says public access to Maungatautari reserve in Waikato will continue in a future settlement with local iwi.
He and local MP Louise Upston met with landowners on Friday to discuss the reserve's role in historical Treaty settlements.
The Crown owns the reserve which encompasses the Maungatautari Ecological Island, a native wildlife conservation project.
Mr Finlayson says the Treaty settlement will not affect the status of the reserve which will continue to be administered by Waipa district council.
He says Ngati Koroki Kahukura regard Maungatautari as a sacred place and are agreed on the importance of the ecological island.
The target for historical Treaty settlements to be completed is 2014.
