Exhibit 99.(j)

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our reports dated July 25, 2013, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the May 31, 2013 Annual Reports to Shareholders of John Hancock Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund and John Hancock New York Tax-Free Income Fund, each a series of John Hancock Tax-Exempt Series Fund, which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings "Financial Highlights" and "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

September 24, 2013