Посмотрите на UINavigationControllerItem
категории на UIViewController
(в UINavigationControler.h):
@interface UIViewController (UINavigationControllerItem)
@property(nonatomic,readonly,retain) UINavigationItem *navigationItem; // Created on-demand so that a view controller may customize its navigation appearance.
@property(nonatomic) BOOL hidesBottomBarWhenPushed; // If YES, then when this view controller is pushed into a controller hierarchy with a bottom bar (like a tab bar), the bottom bar will slide out. Default is NO.
@property(nonatomic,readonly,retain) UINavigationController *navigationController; // If this view controller has been pushed onto a navigation controller, return it.
@end