Tauranga City Council meets this morning to discuss a motion it call a referendum on its decision to create Māori wards for the next local government election.

Ngāti Pukenga spokesperson Buddy Mikaere says the motion comes from four councillors who voted against the proposal.

He says it seems to be in response to the fact a petition which would trigger a binding referendum on the matter doesn’t seem to be getting the required support.

Mr Mikaere says the political landscape is changing, with Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta signalling she intends to repeal the referendum provision.

"It's inevitable there are going to be Māori wards so this group of councillors is doing this for point scoring purposes. The tide has turned against these people with the new government and their promise to get rid of that piece of legislation," he says.

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