About 80 people came to the first mandate hui for lower Whanganui land claims on Saturday, Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiation Trust chairman Ken Mair said.
The meeting was at Putiki Marae. He gave a presentation, and said people asked good questions. After that they could either vote on the spot, or go away and think before they voted.
On Sunday the trust held two more mandate hui, at Ranana and Raetihi. There were at least 30 people at each, Mr Mair said. On Monday there was another at Taumarunui, and in the next two weeks there will be more in Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
People were told about the trust's purpose - to negotiate the best possible land settlement.
After that the trust will ask them whether they agree.
"It has to be understood and ratified by our people. We don't have the right to make the final decision."
Mr Mair was asking people to register, and to vote by the February 16 deadline.
Registration is at the trust's website, or can be "fast tracked" at mandate hui.
To register people have to be descendants of particular ancestors. John Maihi and Turama Hawira are among the group who will assess that.
About 4500 are registered so far, but there could be a lot more who are unregistered.
"That's one of the issues that we have got to get out and communicate to our people."
The election is being handled by electionz.com. Registered people will be sent election packs, which should arrive in the next few days. They can vote by post, online with a special password provided by electionz.com, or in person at mandate hui.
The trust's draft mandate strategy on the Te Puni Kokiri website gives Daryn Te Uamairangi, Jenny Tamakehu, Tracey Waitokia, Erana Mohi, Turama Hawira and George Matthews as trustees, along with Mr Mair.
He said it was good to get the process started.
"Characters like myself have been waiting for this for 30-odd years."