Kati Huirapa Runanga ki Puketeraki and Te Runanga o Otakou lodged submissions opposing the marina, citing adverse cultural effects, at the proposal's resource consent hearing last February.
However, consultancy KTKO Ltd resource management planner Tim Vial said yesterday Kai Tahu ki Otago accepted the approval but could not say if the runanga would appeal.
Marina project manager and quantity surveyor Ian Harrison said Kai Tahu ki Otago presented its case at the hearing, was listened to by the commissioners and mentioned in the resource consent, but the project had been approved.
"We're sympathetic to the sensitive issues there in terms of the lake, the water, the spirit and treatment of the lake bed," he said.
"We took major consultation on the issues they were concerned about and considered them seriously in the designs of the foreshore and marina.
"We're confident we'll be able to to proceed and we're pleased with the approval because there's quite a demand for berths and car parks involved in the project."
Queenstown Marina Development Ltd (QMDL) wants to establish a 240-berth marina, four buildings and public open space on the Frankton Marina Reserve by Lake Wakatipu.
The marina would be public, but owned and managed by QMDL, which would lease or sell an as yet undetermined number of berths.
Mr Harrison said the concept had evolved through consultation with the public and agencies.
"All the good ideas that came through meetings are incorporated. One of the most outstanding is moving the breakwater west so it protects the public launching ramp."
