Being the first coronation of a monarch in 70 years, the King himself had requested it be commemorated by local governments with native tree plantings.
The Department of Internal Affairs has co-ordinated a plan across New Zealand, writing to each council and providing guidance on three tree planting options.
Invercargill city councillors opted for option two, to have a low-key event around the tree planting.
The first option was to have no event, which found no supporters at the council table, while the third option was to have a larger public event with more people and organisations invited and food provided.
Mayor Nobby Clark said his personal preference was for option two, despite it being a slightly closed event, as the chosen location made the event accessible for the public.
"While there are ongoing debates between the royalists and those who would like to see us in an independent republic, you’ve got to open it up for those that want to respect the coronation."
The invited guests to the low-key event would include council, mana whenua representatives, the Bluff community board, kaumātua and representatives of Waihōpai Rūnaka and Te Rūnanga o Awarua, local MPs and chief executives and chairmen of Southland councils.
The cost of the larger event would have been about $6000, relating to the plaque, tree and hire of equipment, while the chosen option two would cost less than that and meet an under-spend within the Democratic Process budget.
Crs Ria Bond and Lesley Soper voiced their support for option three.
Cr Soper said the Crown had community links through charities, and additional invitees to that wider relationship were important parts of the makeup of New Zealand.
"This is the first time in 70 years we do have a relationship with the Crown which, no matter what you may feel about republic or otherwise, the factor is that the relationship is there."
Cr Bond, who along with Cr Stewart opposed the motion to adopt option two, said she believed the coronation of the King to be more important than the delegation to Japanese sister-city Kumagaya.
Council governance manager Michael Morris said there was a fourth recommendation to have a Bluff event at a later date, as the town was a borough council in 1953 and would have done something for the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Mana whenua representative Evelyn Cook noted Bluff was also the location the Queen departed following her first tour of the country, an important link.
The Bluff community board will be approached soon to decide on its own ceremony.
