Local Government Minister Simeon Brown is defending the extra costs of polls on council Maori Wards

The Government's working on legislation which would force councils to hold a poll alongside the 2025 elections, if they want to keep them.

Speaking in front of the Governance and Administration Committee, Brown says it will cost extra money but they've tried to do it in a frugal way.

He says doing it alongside the elections will be cheaper than a stand alone referendum.