CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We  consent  to the  references  to  our  firm  under  the  captions  "Financial
Highlights" for the John Hancock California  Tax-Free Income Fund (the sole fund
contained  in the John  Hancock  California  Tax-Free  Income  Fund) in the John
Hancock  Tax-Free  Income  funds  Prospectus  and  "Independent   Auditors"  and
"Financial Statements" in the John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund Class
A, Class B, and Class C Shares  Statement of Additional  Information  and to the
incorporation by reference in Post-Effective Amendment Number 25 to Registration
Statement  (Form N-1A, No.  33-31675) of our report dated October 4, 2002 on the
financial  statements  and  financial  highlights  in the  Annual  Report to the
Shareholders of John Hancock California  Tax-Free Income Fund for the year ended
August 31, 2002.





                                                            /s/ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                                            --------------------



Boston, Massachusetts
December 23, 2003