The Local Government Commission says it cannot create Maori seats on any new council it might recommend for Northland.
Far North mayor Wayne Brown has promised three seats for Maori in return for iwi support for proposal for a unitary authority for the region.
Mr Brown said his council supports Maori seats and they would therefore become part of any new council structure.
But commission chief executive Donald Riezebos says the law does not give the commission the necessary authority to do what the Far North mayor has asked for.
Mr Riezebos says the question of Maori seats would be for any new council to decide, not the commission, and the decision could be challenged by a poll of electors if enough object.
