Mr Ellison, of Ngai Tahu, told the Otago Daily Times his runanga considered the idea earlier this month, as it did every three years, but there was not yet a desire to push for a Maori ward in Dunedin.
The idea had merit, but a long lead-in time would be needed to convince the community of that, he believed.
Ngai Tahu also supported the ''status quo'', which focused on developing relationships with councils, including in Dunedin, he said.
''We have a range of ways of engaging with the council, and in some decision-making processes. That's functioning reasonably well.''
There was ''no immediate sign'' of that focus shifting, although ''I think in time it will come in''.
''It has merits, but if we were going to be serious about it, we would need to start three years out from the polling, to promote the idea and community discussion and people understanding it.
''If you go straight to a poll, what do you think the poll result would look like?''
Mr Ellison was commenting after the New Plymouth District Council last week voted to create a Maori ward, prompting the resignation of one councillor and a flood of criticism aimed at Mayor Andrew Judd.
The district council will join the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regional councils in having Maori wards.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said there had been no formal discussions about the idea of a Maori ward in Dunedin, but his understanding was local runanga did not favour such a move.
He was also against the idea, saying the council already had a ''pretty proactive'' relationship with mana whenua through a Maori participation working group and other initiatives.
Such a move could also be counterproductive, as it would generate ''all sorts of reactions'', he predicted.
''I personally am not supportive of it [a Maori ward]. That's because I think there are better ways of engaging mana whenua, and I think we're doing that.
''There's always ways to improve. I'm not saying we're perfect ... I think there's always ways to improve engaging with the Maori face of our community. I don't think we have to have a ward to do it.''
