Grey district mayor-elect Tania Gibson and the other new West Coast leaders say they were shocked when Mr O'Connor responded strongly to comments from Mrs Gibson, although the MP yesterday denied any rudeness.
The meeting, hosted at the West Coast Regional Council headquarters at Paroa, was chaired by the regional council's new chairman Cr Allan Birchfield, who promptly closed down the meeting after a short time. He declined to comment this morning.
However, Mrs Gibson confirmed Mr O'Connor's "rude" response to her when she raised the impact of Government policy on West Coast livelihoods had killed the meeting.
She said it was clear that Westland Mayor Bruce Smith and Cr Birchfield were both unhappy at Mr O'Connor's demeanour.
"I just wanted to make the point there are people whose livelihoods are at stake ... People are afraid for their livelihoods and wonder what it's going to cost them.
"It didn't go down too flash, but you know we had a good debate about it. I said 'it's not me making the statement Damien, it's people coming to me' ... he was intolerant of local leaders."
Mr O'Connor emphatically denied he was uncivil towards Mrs Gibson.
"I absolutely deny that. There was robust discussion on a couple of issues."
The meeting had been an opportunity for the newly elected leaders to canvas various matters affecting the region.
Mr O'Connor said he stood by how he responded, and noted that West Coast representatives intending to advocate needed to be "armed with facts" before making a stand.
"If there is an expectation that people can just make comments and have no response, then that's a little unrealistic. I appreciate that people will make comments from time to time, it is really important that we as community leaders are mindful of the facts.
"I pointed out that there have been a whole lot of things that have been happening for quite some time on the West Coast, and a whole lot of areas that have been impacted," Mr O'Connor said.
Mrs Gibson said she was conscious of the need for a good relationship and sought to play down the tone of what had been said, but she had heard nothing further from Mr O'Connor.
"We shook hands at the end and he said 'nice to meet you'."
Following a further call from Mr O'Connor's office this morning to the Greymouth Star, Westland Mayor Smith rejected he might be trying to manipulate Mrs Gibson as a mouthpiece for his agenda.
"None of us knew what Tania was going to say," Mr Smith said. "She was asked about the issues she saw in her community and she responded and then it was bang, away it went."
Mr Smith said he and the others present barely had the chance to say anything as the meeting ended early and they were shocked at Mr O'Connor's reaction.
"It wasn't conducive to the relationship going forward. The person that did all the speaking was Damien," Mr Smith said.
"In a normal respectful relationship, how it was said and the fact it was directed at her would not have occurred. It was very unusual. She (Mrs Gibson) is not exaggerating and I was quite stunned. If he wants a good relationship with the Grey Mayor, the first thing I'd be doing is picking up the phone and apologising."
- By Brendon McMahon
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What I would like to know is what Tania Gibson plans to do with MAWERA as unless there is an agreement greymouth is gone. What I ask never gets an answer .......... greymouth is the main town on the westcoast.