Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Maori 'well represented' on super council

Updated at 4:07 pm on 12 October 2010

Two councillors elected to Auckland's super city council say Maori will be well represented despite there not being dedicated seats.

Auckland's newly elected mayor Len Brown is an advocate for designated Maori seats and plans to address the matter as part of his term.

But councillors Jami-Lee Ross and Des Morrison, who are Maori, say having three elected Maori representatives is good enough.

Mr Morrison says although there are only three of them - Alf Filipaina is the third - it fits with the demographics of Auckland, with about 16 per cent of the population in the Auckland region Maori.

Mr Ross says there is no need for Maori seats because the new council appears to have a good balance of ethnic representation.

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