Alongside many other tribes, they would seek to hold the Crown accountable for the poor state of awa (streams), and the degradation of nga wai (freshwater) including the "outstanding and once pristine" muriwaihou (aquifer, groundwater).
They would also challenge the lack of meaningful outcomes and participation in resource decision-making for tangata whenua, and the lack of recognition of iwi and hapu rights and interests.
Ultimately, Dr Whyte said, they were hoping for stronger direction from the tribunal in the way that the Crown should address Maori rights and interests.
The iwi were already working locally to protect the region's waterways - such as their involvement with the TANK plan change, and their treaty claimant group.
"There's multiple avenues where iwi rights and interests can be recognised, and provided for, and implemented [as] the next step," she said.
The iwi wanted to reverse the trend of the declining quality of the region's water which they had seen echoed across the country.
"We do need to see some direction around the importance of the environment," she said, "economic development is important too but not at the detriment of the environment."
Over the past couple of years there had been a strong move to work collaboratively, Dr Whyte said.
This was another opportunity to work together, "collaborating all the different hapu that makes it very clear to the council what our expectations are around our waterways".
"People are seeing that collaborating and working together will have a stronger voice that will hopefully be heard."