Over the weekend, mayoral candidate Andrew Simms lodged his firm opposition to Māori wards and voting rights for unelected representatives.
Following social media comments on the subject, Mr Simms told the Otago Daily Times he disagreed with any unelected representatives having voting rights during the council process, regardless of who they were representing.
"From my point of view, the community choose the councillors ... to represent them," Mr Simms said.
"I see the inclusion of unelected representatives at any level having a vote as being the thin end of the wedge a bit and I don't think that fits with democracy.
"At that point, the community loses control of who they have to represent them."
Several of the Dunedin City Council’s committees or sub-committees have non-elected members.
These included infrastructure services and strategy as well as planning and engagement, which each have two local rūnaka representatives with voting rights.
Ms Simms said, if elected mayor in October, he would put the matter up for discussion in the council.
His preference was for experts to participate in discussions, but not to have voting rights.
"It's any unelected representation, it's not a Māori issue whatsoever at that point," he said.
"There are numerous people that I could think of within the Dunedin community who are either mana whenua or mātāwaka [Māori from an iwi outside the area] who ... would absolutely waltz in as councillors if they put themselves forward purely on their own merits."
Mr Simms said his position on Māori wards was based, in part, on an apparent lack of support for the wards from mana whenua.
He said these were conscience issues and candidates on his ticket, Future Dunedin, were free to form their own opinions.
Yesterday, other mayoral candidates spoke in favour of unelected representatives.
Cr Mandy Mayhem said she had "no issue whatsoever" with mana whenua representatives having voting rights as it was important to have shared responsibility on decision making.
Māori perspectives should be incorporated in local governance and steps like developing "culturally appropriate consultation processes" and supporting self-determination could ensure Māori participation.
Fellow councillor and mayoral candidate Sophie Barker said she believed in Māori representation and input into council decision-making.
"I realise people can be nervous about unelected representatives on committees. However, I think committee representation is useful to ensure we have mana whenua views."
Cr Barker said people she had spoken to felt comfortable with the arrangement as committees did not have the same powers as council.
"A Māori ward was raised recently by a member of mātāwaka. Some Māori, while respecting and honouring the rights of local iwi, feel that their voices are not being heard in decision making ... it’s worth thinking about."
Green Party nominee Mickey Treadwell said Māori had "long been under-represented in local government" and committee representation and Māori wards were an important part of addressing the inequity.
"Both the DCC and the [regional council] have independent accountants on their audit and risk subcommittees, and this somehow escapes controversy."
Other mayoral candidates Lee Vandervis and Jules Radich did not respond to questions.
