James Apaniai says it is common knowledge the appointment of customary landowner trustees often sparks disputes over logging operations.
Mr Apaniai says many of these disputes end up in the courts and the government needs to reform the appointment process.
He says disputes over logging operations that go before the courts revolve around disagreements between customary landowner trustees or trustees and tribes.
The Ministry of Forests and Research is currently drafting changes to the Forestry Resource and Timber Utilisation Act.
