The Waitaki District Council is seeking amendments to its relationship agreement with local Maori.
Council community services group manager Thunes Cloete and Cr Hugh Perkins met members of the Waitaha Taiwhenua o Waitaki Trust board early this year after a previous agreement between the two groups expired.
The board approved the renewed agreement at its annual general meeting on April 30.
However, at council chambers this week, questions were raised about the meaning of the agreement.
Phrases in the document use Maori terminology that was not understood by councillors.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher asked Dr Cloete for a translation of the phrase "For many generations Waitaha have maintained ahi ka uninterrupted'' and a translation could not be provided immediately.
"I want to get my head around what it is exactly we are signing up to,'' Mr Kircher said.
Further, the "application of the relationship agreement'' addressed what the council would provide to the trust board, but did not mention the trust's obligations to the council.
"This is obliging us to particular actions,'' Mr Kircher said.
He said he wanted to see "a bit more of a mutual agreement''.
Among the terms of the agreement was that artefacts crafted by Waitaha artisans "remain with Waitaha''.
Amendments to the document would be brought back to the council for approval before Mr Kircher signed the agreement.
