New Plymouth's mayor is defending his call for the country's councils to have up to half of their councillors be Maori.

Andrew Judd told Newstalk ZB's Larry Williams the call is an attempt to have councils better reflect the Treaty of Waitangi and encourage the country to work in partnership with Maori.

"Trying to consult with the Maori through working groups is an insult to Maori because those decisions that came down to those working groups were decided by non Maori."