Waitomo District Council has voted unanimously to not introduce Māori wards.
Earlier this year, council's Te Rāngai Whakakaupapa Kōrero committee recommended there be public consultation on Māori wards or an alternative means of enabling Māori representation.
Mayor John Robertson said Māori wards could place limits on democratic choice and may only give the perception of increased representation.
He said council believed it could achieve more Māori participation and involvement in other ways, like establishing a committee with Māori representation.
"As was noted by mana whenua on a number of occasions when we visited Marae, Māori voting turnout is low. Greater participation at the ballot box might result in more Māori elected to council under the current ward system," he said in a statement.
The structure of the committee was yet to be determined, he said.
"It will take time as it will need to accommodate all mana whenua throughout our district and its method of representation needs to include Māori collectives such as hapū, whānau, marae and papakāinga. That is what we were told in the consultation process."
About 44 percent of the Waitomo district population identifies as Māori.
The council said the formal consultation ran for 10 weeks, and 60 submissions were received at its close on 17 September 2023. Three more late submissions were received on 4 October.
RNZ
