Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says despite her party's policy, she personally believes Maori representation on local councils is not the "be all and end all" and it would be more effective for local Maori to be given a decision-making role alongside councils.
The Maori Party's policy isto establish Maori seats on local bodies, similar to the three for Environment Bay of Plenty.
It also wants to entrench the Maori seats at a central government level - a policy it says will be critical in talks after the election.
However, when asked about lifting Maori representation on local bodies at the Te Waka Awhina annual conference for Maori staff in local councils, Ms Turia said her personal view was that it was not so important.
"I'm out of sync with a lot of people here, but at a personal level I don't believe being on a council is the be all and end all ... It's important not so much pushing to appoint Maori to councils, but to acknowledge mana whenua and have them sitting alongside in a decision-making role."
Ms Turia later made it clear she was not reflecting Maori Party policy, but voicing a personal view.
The Bay of Plenty option advocated by her party was "one model".
"However, I think there's more power in mana whenua having a say. In the end any Maori person could end up being appointed to council who don't necessarily have any genealogical link to the waterways or the land. And we think it's important those who hold the whakapapa are the ones who should be consulted."
She said it was local Maori whose waterways and land would be affected by their decisions, rather than individuals on councils.
Mrs Turia urged the council staff present to encourage local Maori to challenge councils to fulfil their obligations to Maori.
The current Local Government Act and Resource Management Act already required councils to consult Maori, but "I know the majority don't if they can avoid it".
She also wanted all staff to be checked for "cultural competency" and given training if they fell short.
