There are fresh calls for elected Māori representatives on Auckland Council, 10 years after the supercity was formed.
The Royal Commission - which recommended the amalgamation a decade ago also proposed Māori seats be part of the new council.
The idea was dumped, prompting thousands of people to protest in Auckland CBD.
Ten years on, the Government looks set to pave the way for councils to do away with public polls when they want to create Māori seats.
Auckland Council reporter Jean Bell filed this report.
Simone Andersen, Auckland Council's acting general manager of Māori Outcomes, says in a statement Māori identity and wellbeing is a key focus area for the council.
Andersen says the council has developed Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau, a way of tracking progress on Māori outcomes.
She says Māori were consulted with to identify issues that matter to Māori while developing this framework.
But she did not specify whether it was Urban Māori or mana whenua that were spoken to during this process.
She says the council has provided targeted support for Māori to help soften the blow of Covid-19 lockdowns.
