The battle for Ihumatao could play a decisive role in the the battle for Auckland mayoralty

Mayoral candidate John Tamihere is now backing calls to convert the housing development site into a public reserve.

Mayor Phil Goff says it's a legally complex situation with no simple solutions.

But Tamihere says the site is too important to build on, and could be turned into a reserve without setting any legal or Treaty precedent.

He says Goff and the government need to step up and protect the site.