Wellington-based Mr de Bres, who was in Dunedin on Tuesday, said he had written to all local government authorities urging them to consider establishing Maori ward or constituency seats in time for the next local government elections.
The city and regional council should "show leadership'' if local runaka (tribal councils) wanted Maori wards, Mr de Bres told The Star.
The deadline for a decision regarding Maori seats for the 2013 local government elections is Wednesday.
Mr de Bres said all councils had the ability to establish Maori seats under the Local Electoral Act.
"It's a decision in favour of fairness,'' he said.
"Wards and constituencies are based on the Maori electoral roll, and maintain the principle of one person, one vote. It offers Maori an option in local government that is well-established in our national Parliament.''
It was disappointing most councils had rejected the call for 2013, he said.
He called on the regional and city council not to follow the lead of councils that had decided to put the issue to a general vote by their citizens.
"The councils should show leadership by providing Maori seats if Maori want it, and not shoving it off to let the people decide, because in almost all cases they will say no.
"I want councils to join with Maori to explain to people the advantages of it.''
Edward Ellison, who is responsible for Otakou runaka's relationship with local government, said while Ngai Tahu had previously not supported Maori seats in local government, discussions following Mr de Bres' letter had led the Otago Peninsula-based runaka to support the concept.
"I think ultimately it will happen ... But there is the realisation a lot of work needs to be done with the councils and the public before it happens,'' Mr Ellison said.
He supported introducing Maori seats, not in 2013, but in time for the following local government elections.
"At the end of the day, we do want the community to support the concept,'' he said.
Matt Ellison, who is chairman of the Puketeraki runaka, said the Karitane-based council "supports the idea in principle but is happy with the status quo at the moment''.
Representatives of all four runaka in the region had discussed the issue with local government representatives, he said.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said he did not think council Maori seats were likely.
''Some six percent of the Dunedin population identifies as Maori,'' Mr Cull said. "[It is] not really sufficient to create a ward with proportionate representation. You need to talk to the local runaka, but I understand there is no great demand for a Maori ward.
"Council is currently engaging with mana whenua on possible ways of having their voice heard at local government level.''
ORC chairman Stephen Woodhead was not available for comment yesterday.
In October, the regional council considered the issue of Maori seats and decided not to take it any further. At that time, Mr Woodhead said there was no support for the idea from runaka.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has had Maori seats for seven years.
"The introduction of Maori seats has [been] transformative in the relationship between the regional council and Maori,'' Mr de Bres said.
Nelson City Council announced this month it would create a Maori ward for the next elections.
Waikato Regional Council had previously said it would introduce two Maori wards for the next election.
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