Four Welcome Bay landowners near Tauranga are caught up in a cultural debate.
They want to build, subdivide and harvest their forests, but are no longer sure they can.
The Historic Places Trust along with local Maori has declared, in some cases, a large part of their land wahitapu or sacred.
Kopukairoa, a small mountain, is one example.
Local iwi have declared the land wahitapu, deeming most of the mountain sacred for mythological and historical reasons.
The consequences are massive: no new houses, subdivision or tree harvesting can happen unless local iwi give permission.
In an unprecedented move, the trust agreed to put the 180 hectares under wahitapu - the largest block of private land in New Zealand to be given such sacred status.
All the property owners say it is unjustified and that no one has provided substantial evidence of historic sites on the mountain.
There is no immediate right of appeal under the Historic Places Trust Act for the property owners and they may have to give up plans for their land.
