A stern message from Taranaki iwi - who say reforming freshwater laws will bring conflict with Maori

Parliamentarians are hearing submissions on plans to overturn freshwater regulations laid out by Labour.

They include requiring councils to involve tangata whenua in decisions on freshwater management.

Nga Iwi o Taranaki Trust represents eight iwi groups .

Spokesman Dion Luke says making this change will set the relationship back.

He says the shared decision making model helped get around the issue of Maori interests in waterways, which haven't been resolved.