Senior Maori representatives in Tamaki Makaurau want Auckland Council to re-think its decision to leave them out of a key vote on the city's budget.
In an 11 to 10 vote, councillors decided not to send the budget to the strategy and finance committee which is partly represented by the Independent Maori Statutory Board.
The move means two members from the board can't have their say on the municipal spending on behalf of Maori in Auckland.
Independent Maori Statutory Board chairman David Taipari says they need to be at the decision-making table.
He says he's hopeful the council will re-consider the decision it's made, which he thinks is contrary to the requirements of the law.
Mr Taipari says the board has been included in the strategy and finance committee votes before, and he doesn't know why things have changed.
On Friday, Auckland mayor Len Brown said he would work to ensure Maori representatives are included in budget discussions.
Mr Brown said is his responsibility to ensure due process is upheld, so he is determined to make sure the statutory board is involved.
"We had a later vote, that wasn't recorded or acknowledged, and it was pretty clear that everyone really felt they'd overshot the mark," he said.
Following the vote on Thursday, councillor George Wood said any inclusion of the Maori board members would distort democracy.
Councillor Alf Filipaina wanted the budget to be scrutinised through the strategy and finance committee in the usual way.
He believes council process is being circumvented and says it's not a good look to go against the statute that provides for Maori representation.
