Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher earlier this month asked for amendments to the agreement, saying at the time he needed clarity about the meaning of the agreement.
Yesterday, he said he was pleased with the new agreement and said there was no reason to sign an agreement that contained "empty platitudes''.
"We have tried to make it as meaningful as possible.''
"We recognise a really good basis of good faith working together. It's an agreement that shows mutual respect for each other's position.''
Discussions for an agreement with Waitaha Taiwhenua o Waitaki Trust started in 2004 and an agreement was reached in 2011.
After the initial three-year agreement expired, council community services group manager Dr Thunes Cloete and Cr Hugh Perkins met members of the trust board and the board approved the renewed agreement at its annual general meeting on April 30.
The agreement recognises Waitaha as a distinct iwi in the district and recognises artefacts crafted by Waitaha artisans "remain with Waitaha''.
Dr Cloete said there had been no substantive changes to the agreement but that some of the language had changed and a glossary of Maori words had been added to make the document more transparent.
Trust chairwoman Anne Te Maiharoa-Dodds, who signed the agreement for Waitaha, said the new agreement and the amendments showed "we can always talk things out''.
"It leaves both parties with integrity and that's what's important,'' she said.
"It helps us [Waitaha] move forward in the community as well.''
Waitaha trustee Shane Brand said the agreement was "extremely important'' to the board and Waitaha and the council had a very good working relationship and "long may it continue''.
While the entire South Island was considered to be the iwi's rohe (territory), he said from Aoraki/Mt Cook to the Waitaki River mouth was "sacred'' land for Waitaha.
The relationship agreement was the only agreement the trust had with a local authority.
The council also has a memorandum of understanding with Te Runanga o Moeraki.
