New Plymouth's mayor says threats against councillors aren't uncommon.

Councillor Murray Chong abstained from voting on Māori wards yesterday - saying he was fearful after finding a bullet dent in his ute.

Legislation passed last week to let councils get rid of their Māori wards.

New Plymouth has voted to retain theirs, but Kaipara District Council today become the first to scrap theirs.

New Plymouth mayor, Neil Holdom, says they get threats on a range of topics.

"People used to write in emails and they'd express their views quite professionally and constructively - now it's just becoming increasingly aggressive."

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