Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says politics has become increasingly toxic for Maori women

She told RNZ's Saturday mornings, she's dealt with the 'old guard' resistant to change.

She says women politicians aren't criticised as strongly as their male counterparts.

Whanau told RNZ she thinks there's an imbalance and double standard the way women and wahine Maori are treated in politics.

This week Whanau announced she won't be running for re-election - instead endorsing Labour's Andrew Little.