Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders asked media to leave the meeting at the Carey's Bay Historic Hotel on Tuesday night.
He said at the time it was ''a private meeting''.
The port plans to begin the build next month, with piling continuing until July next year.
The work will allow the wharf to accommodate the new generation of larger ships.
Mr Winders said yesterday the meeting was an opportunity for him to have an open discussion, something that was easier without the media present.
''I learnt a lot last night, and listened a lot.''
The result was ''feedback from the community for the new guy''.
''My job at the moment is to listen as much as I can and to absorb all the issues that possibly in the past have been raised and haven't been listened to.''
Once he did that, he could consider ''how to be a better neighbour''.
Hotel owner Jo Kidston said after the meeting Port Otago gave an outline of what was expected to happen during the wharf extension work.
Ms Kidston said people were ''generally happier'' with communication from Port Otago, as it had not been forthcoming in the past.
However, the response to an explanation of the port's plan was ''mixed''.
''People were asking some questions that couldn't really be answered.''
Nobody knew what noise levels would be until the work started.
Ms Kidston said she had understood the meeting would be public, but Mr Winders had said he instigated it, and invited residents.
Mr Winders said he did not plan to have more such meetings, although he would go to a meeting of the West Harbour Community Board to give an update on the build.
''I'll engage with the community where it makes sense.''
