Local Maori and Dunedin's mayor believe the council's present arrangement works better than the Maori Party's proposal to establish mandatory Maori wards on every district and city council.
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell will present a petition to Parliament calling for the Maori wards to be established.
However, Te Runanga o Otakou kaumatua Edward Ellison said the establishment of a mandatory Maori ward on the Dunedin City Council could have unintended negative side-effects.
‘‘One person within whatever size of that council isn't very effective,'' he said.
‘‘That doesn't do much, in my view. You would need more than one.''
The establishment of such a ward could also meet with a negative public response and compromise the working arrangement between Maori and the council.
‘‘The principles behind it are right, but the practicalities of these things are a much different matter,'' he said.
‘‘Currently, we are favouring the working relationship.''
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the issue was raised during the recent representational review, but it was ultimately sidelined because of the lack of appetite from Te Runanga o Otakou and Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki.
The review team included Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Maori language revitalisation strategy programme leader Paulette Tamati-Elliffe.
The council was always looking at ways to engage with Maori, Mr Cull said.
‘‘There's a range of ways that Maori can have influence on the decision-making within council and a ward isn't the only one.''
If local Maori were to change their views on the issue, he would be happy to revisit the matter, he said.
Mr Flavell's petition - which was started at the urging of New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd, who championed the creation of a Maori ward in his city, ultimately blocked by a public vote last year - seeks to amend legislation governing Maori representation in local government.
