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Tainui's Endowed College, which in 10 years has produced few results, looks to be a major beneficiary of the pending Waikato River Treaty settlement.
Tribal sources say the institution is in for a boost of up to $15 million, to be used to support scientists who can contribute to cleaning up the river.
The brainchild of the late Sir Robert Mahuta, the college opened in 1999 and was intended to be a post-graduate research centre.
But since then few students have passed through its doors.
The Herald understands this week has seen last-minute negotiations between Waikato-Tainui and the Crown before the tribe's parliamentary Te Kauhanganui meeting tomorrow.
If successful, the settlement deed could be signed off during King Tuheitia's koroneihana (coronation) commemorations next week.
While the settlement document went out for consultation last December, putting it through to legislation stage has been held up by significant sticking points - including what the size and longevity of payments for the clean-up fund would be.
Tainui leaders such as Tom Roa said they hadn't seen the final detail but gave a qualified defence of the college. "I guess there's been a lot of soul searching about the college's strategy. It would be fair to say that questions are being asked."
Mr Roa said the river-specific focus of the college would be a positive for the wellbeing of the awa (river) and ultimately Tainui, whose identity was tied to it.
