Next month's election is stalling Crown moves to acquire two Ruakaka sites Mighty River Power (MRP) had included in sale plans opposed by Whangarei hapu Patuharakeke.
Government-owned MRP - which in the 1990s was given 166ha in seven blocks, including the site of the now removed Marsden A and B power stations, - this year put the land on the market as it was deemed surplus to requirements.
But Patuharakeke lodged an application in May for an urgent hearing of the Waitangi Tribunal to stop the sale as it has a Treaty of Waitangi claim over some of the land.
In June, the Crown told tribunal presiding officer Judge Craig Coxhead it had made a non-binding expression of interest to buy two of the seven blocks, which have 27B memorials signifying they could be returned or compensated for in Treaty settlements.
Expressions of interest closed on May 22, but the Crown also advised MRP had indicated it would not sell the remaining five properties before October 31.