But the actions of the Dunedin City Council-owned company - which operates Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Dunedin Town Hall and other venues - will be scrutinised as part of a wider review to be carried out by the city council.
The New Zealand Minerals Forum is scheduled to hold its annual three-day conference at the Dunedin Centre - including the town hall - beginning on May 28.
The programme includes a welcome by Mayor Dave Cull and talks on mining investment opportunities in New Zealand, the coal user-climate change "dilemma", best-practice environmental management and new low-carbon technologies.
Protesters are already planning to make their voices heard at the event, and yesterday Wise Response environmental group chairman Sir Alan Mark questioned Dunedin Venues' actions.
In a letter to the Otago Daily Times, he asked whether Dunedin Venues had complied with its own policy, set out in its statement of intent, to "exhibit a sense of social and environmental responsibility".
The council also had a policy on achieving net zero carbon emissions in the city by 2050, and the company was supposed to bring any potential conflicts with policies to the council's attention, he said.
Councillors appeared to be unaware of the situation when the event was made public.
A Dunedin Venues spokeswoman, in a statement yesterday, said the company did not believe the booking and its commercial actions were in conflict with other council policies.
The standard booking process was followed but no conflict was identified, so the council was not informed, she said.
"The Dunedin Town Hall is a community venue that is a neutral platform that is available for parties to express their views but does not imply the city's support for any said party."
Dunedin Venues had since discussed the booking with council staff, after public concerns were raised, and learned the council would be reviewing booking policies as a result, she said.
Mr Cull said yesterday that would not stop the minerals forum going ahead, but Dunedin Venues' approach would be considered as part of the wider review.
"We will be looking at just how that policy was intended to be implemented and whether we need to adjust the understandings between DVML and the council on that."
Related Stories
Comments
If DVML can hire rooms to Australian feminists who pronounce all men must die and let's commit gendercide against men, then is ok to rent to miners
Let them come and more such conferences the merrier for the city.
These protestors are blinded by their zeal and could do with a reality check. As I am writing this, this morning- 5% of NZ electricity is produced by coal. It has the ability to generate approx 15%. These mis-guided protestors seem to forget it does not always rain/sunshine/windy conditions enough. We need this power source for now and the forseeable future.
It stuns me that an organisation going about its lawful business is targeted by people who have very little room in their lives for legitimate alternative views on life. It worries me even more that Council would even consider blacklisting such legitimate interests simply because some Councillors and citizens have alternative views. I fully support the right to an alternative view but I don't support the undemocratic suppression of people going about their legitimate business. Also I am yet to be convinced the majority of people of Dunedin actually support some of this Councils more alternative views on life.
Cull thinks that this event should trigger a review of DVML's process, an event at which he has already agreed to give the opening address, uh huh....
I seriously wonder if the ultra greens even understand what they are protesting against.
Minerals are necessary for EVERY facet of modern life. Building, vehicles, water and sewage systems and most food production use minerals. Be that in making pipes, tools or concrete.
And all the greens can say is we don't like some minerals so producers shouldn't meet. Time for some people to wake up.