Waitaha wants special recognition for the Whitston Escarpment, also known as Te Ana Raki, which will be mined by Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd for limestone and tuff for its $400 million development.
The limestone escarpment is next to and towers above the cement plant site at the entrance to the valley.
One of the trust boards representing Waitaha is disappointed the Environment Court has not recognised the status it claimed because of cultural and spiritual ties it had with the valley.
The Waitaha Taiwhenua O Waitaki Trust Board and Te Runanganui O Waitaha Me Mata Waka Inc were interested parties in an appeal heard in Oamaru by the Environment Court earlier this year against the cement plant development.
Waitaha Taiwhenua O Waitaki Trust Board spokesman Stephen Bray said yesterday the resource consents process had failed right from the start because Holcim had not consulted Waitaha.
That continued with the Otago Regional and Waitaki District Councils, which granted resource consents for the development, also failing to consult Waitaha.
Mr Bray said Waitaha would not appeal the Environment Court's decision to the High Court on points of law because that was so expensive it was prohibitive.
However, it would be pursuing other avenues.
"There is still time, because Holcim will not be making a final decision whether to build the plant until later next year," Mr Bray said.
Waitaha wanted to be involved with Holcim over the development, and hoped to further discuss that with the company.
Mr Bray also believed divisions between itself and Ngai Tahu could be settled, if Ngai Tahu was prepared "to sit at the table and discuss them".
During the Environment Court hearing, Waitaha and Ngai Tahu, the statutory body responsible for the area, clashed over Maori cultural and spiritual values in the valley.
Ngai Tahu said its Moeraki runanga had mana whenua (status) over the valley.
It had reached a memorandum of understanding with Holcim.
Waitaha claimed mana whenua and said Ngai Tahu was not sufficiently knowledgeable on Waitaha values and sites and not able to represent its interests.
However, in its decision upholding the resource consents issued for the cement development, the court declined to get involved in that debate.
The court said it was apparent the issue was more deeply seated and Waitaha did not consider Ngai Tahu had authority to speak for it.
However, the court found Holcim had fulfilled its obligation to consult and the Maori relationship with the valley had been recognised and provided for in an agreement reached with the Moeraki runanga.
