Far North Mayor Moko Tepania says councils will be on the back foot next year trying to defend their Māori wards.
His council was among 45 district and regional councils that voted to keep dedicated Māori representation, with only Kaipara and Upper Hutt voting to scrap them.
That means councils must test that decision by referendum at next year’s local government elections.
Mr Tepania says they will need to work with their iwi partners.
“There’s going to be so much misinformation being shared it’s going to be very hard for grassroots campaigns to try and step up and show a louder and stronger voice than these incredibly well-backed, racist rhetoric organisations that are going to be coming out in force,” he says.
