The next step will be taken to protect Hawke's Bay's Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers with the Minister for the Environment declaring a water conservation order.
Fish & Game, Ngati Hori ki Kohupatiki, Forest & Bird, Whitewater NZ and Jet Boating NZ filed a joint application in December to the minister asking for the order.
Such orders give rivers and lakes the equivalent of national park-type protection and if successful, it will be only the 16th waterway in New Zealand to be protected this way.
Fish & Game chief executive Bryce Johnson said the group was delighted the minister decided to progress the application and refer it to a special tribunal for further consideration.
"We are also delighted to see that the Hawke's Bay Regional Council has backed away from its initial opposition to the water conservation order and is now welcoming the minister's decision."