The Waitangi Tribunal has called a judicial conference to sort out when a second round of hearings will be held into Māori rights to freshwater and geothermal resources.
The Crown wants to wait until next February saying it is still developing policy on water and is working with iwi and hapū.
But the Māori Council and other claimants are fighting any delay.
The Tribunal has called a hui between both parties for 2 June.
Chief Judge Wilson Isaac, the presiding officer, will hear arguments from lawyers on whether the inquiry should be put off or held some time from October.
There is also the prospect of an urgent hearing being granted into the process.
That may be followed by another looking at the Crown and how it complies with the Treaty.
In the meantime, the Tribunal is urging both the Crown and claimants to continue talking to see whether they can come to an agreed position.
