The political hot potato of Maori electoral wards will be thrown around a public forum in New Plymouth tonight.

A panel of six, including Winston Peters, Willie Jackson and Metiria Turei, will debate the concept.

The discussion's been organised in the wake of the New Plymouth District Council voting in September to establish a Maori ward seat for the 2016 local government election.

Mayor Andrew Judd says the district's broaching a topic all councils are legally obliged to consider every six years.