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Authorities are trying to resolve a longstanding blockade of a road to the Urewera ranges by moving it.
The Whakatane District Council yesterday began work to move a section of Matahi Valley Rd, southeast of Ruatoki, to end the blockade by a group affiliated to the local Omuriwaka hapu.
Since 1964, the southern end of the road has passed across private land, and the group has objected to council officials and other authorities using the route.
Members of the group - which goes by names including Omuriwaka Management Committee and Te Hapu Oneone Ngai Tamatuhirae o Omuriwaka Paa Maori Incorporation - have also blocked the road to the public, or charged fees to anyone wanting to get to Te Urewera National Park via the road.
This summer, they reportedly charged $10 a head to those using the road to reach campsites and other areas in the park.
Family groups were charged up to $150.
The blockade has been in place since September 2006, when the Whakatane council was advised that the road would be closed to its officials and Department of Conservation staff.
A forestry company trying to log land along the disputed route has also been denied access both to the road and the land by members of the group camped out in buses.
On Monday, the council served notices to remove the buses and a building erected by the group.
The removal was expected to happen yesterday but council chief executive Diane Turner had not had word last night whether it had taken place because of the remoteness of the area.
She said police were assisting with the action and with the relocation of the road.
The council wants to move the road to its original route, across council-owned land that was flooded in 1964.
At that time, the road was diverted on to land owned by the Omuriwaka hapu.
It has stayed there since, leading to the dispute.
Mrs Turner said council contractors tried to shift the road to its original position about a year ago, but were forced to abandon work because of resistance from the group.
"The police at that time decided that the work should be stopped to enable further consultation and that there was adequate public access," she said.
"With the absence of any police support, we couldn't guarantee the safety of the contractors so we had to stop work."
She said the council had since regained police support and intended to proceed with the relocation, even if met with resistance.
Senior Sergeant Bruce Jenkins, officer-in-charge of Whakatane police, last night referred questions to Bay of Plenty district commander Superintendent Gary Smith, who could not be reached.
Members of the Omuriwaka group were also unable to be reached for comment.
