Changes are expected to the Rotorua District Council's Te Arawa Standing Committee to ensure it represents all tangata whenua and isn't seen to just advocate for Te Arawa descendants.
An audit is being carried out by Tama Hovell, who specialises in Maori issues and local government laws. He has also undertaken another review about how the council engages with tribes.
The council's director of Kaupapa Maori, Mauriora Kingi, says there's nothing wrong with the present committee, but the council wants it to be more effective and ensure its mandating process of who it is representing is up to date.
Mr Kingi says it's important iwi descendants other than Te Arawa who live in the region and are ratepayers can also have an input into decision-making.
Mr Hovell has been asked to complete the reviews before the end of June.
