Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean called the exclusion of North Otago from the forum a ''snub for Oamaru's mayor [and] an insult to Waitaki's flourishing tourism sector''.
But Mr Kircher said it was not a case of the district being overlooked.
Mr Davis said last week he knew there was dissatisfaction with the status quo among mayors and he wanted to ''get a handle on where the pressure points are and how freedom camping is managed across New Zealand''.
Southern mayors invited to the meeting were those representing Central Otago, Dunedin, Mackenzie, Queenstown Lakes, Southland and Timaru.
''The likes of Mackenzie and Central Otago, we've got things in common with them, and I am sure they [Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan and Mackenzie Mayor Graham Smith] will cover things off fairly well,'' Mr Kircher said.
The National government had signalled a change in direction in dealing with freedom camping, while the present government appeared more interested in a visitor levy, something he and other Southern mayors had sought, Mr Kircher said.
