Meremere residents have vowed to fight all the way to the Privy Council to overturn plans for a big rubbish dump 3km south of the village.
Brenda Maxwell is leading the charge by about 60 locals, who say the site, granted planning consent on Friday, is tapu because peopledied and were buried there during the Land Wars.
Conflicting evidence was given regarding that claim during the 12-day hearing.
The Meremere group is also concerned about the environmental implications of using the Hampton Downs site, which is close to the Waikato River.
EnviroWaste Services and Northern Disposal Systems have permission to dump 30 million cubic metres of solid waste over the next 25 years.
Mrs Maxwell said the granting of consent came as no surprise, and the group had been planning an appeal for more than a month.
"We're open to donations, and we have a wealthy business person supporting us as well. I'm going for legal aid and am prepared to take it to the Privy Council if I have to," she said.
Other groups are likely to appeal, including Olivine, which had planned to burn rubbish at the old Meremere power station to generate electricity. It is now looking to set up overseas after failing to get consent.
An Olivine shareholder and spokesman, Craig Jepson, said it was a concern that the dump was only 550m from the Waikato River and upstream from Auckland's future water supply intake.
Environment Waikato and the Waikato District Council found that any water or contaminants leaking through the dump's liner would not enter the river.
Leachate will be collected and transported to sewage treatment plants, and a gas collection system will be installed.
The landfill is to be developed in seven separate stages, and the design and operation will be subject to an independent review.
