Since about 1950, cribs have been established at Coopers Creek – a remote part of Sandy Point Domain, 15 km from the town.
The groynes have been considered 'non-compliant' since the area was designated a preserve in 1992, but were allowed to remain under an annual licensing agreement.
Invercargill City Council currently has 17 owner permits, some of whom have recently proposed taking ownership of the land.
This week councilors discussed a range of options for the village, hoping it could solve the long-standing debacle of houses occupying spare land.
Ultimately, it was decided to gauge residents' support for a long-term 35-year licensing option that would include a fixed end date, meaning people would have to leave the country after it expired.
If there was no clear direction from that commitment, the council would choose the staff-recommended option of an independent term-determination process, which would last a minimum of 18 months.
That option was more expensive and included the creation of a hearing panel that would consider the issue before making a recommendation to the council.
During a debate that lasted almost an hour, differing views were expressed around the table.
Council group manager community spaces and places Rex Capil launched proceedings, saying a lot of history had been created by decisions made and not made.
“This is an emotional issue. It has a history, it is complex – and for many people it is personal,” he said.
Mana Whenua representative Evelyn Cook spoke out strongly in favor of an independent process, saying resource management has changed significantly since 1950.
Cook said funerals were taking place across the vast area, and the council was operating based on insufficient information and poor procedure.
“What we don't seem to be doing is looking at what the environmental impact of these places is compared to what was envisioned at the time.
“I think the time has come for us to do it once and do it right.”
Fellow representative Pani Cooke also said the area was important to Mana Whenua, and ownership was not an option.
The area should be treated as rent-paid Māori land, she said, with an agreement that worked for everyone.
Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell was hesitant to support staff's recommendation of an independent process due to the cost, while Councilor Ian Pottinger said it was the best option because the council did not have the skills to make a decision that would not was based on emotion.
Councilor Allan Arnold took a different approach, saying residents should be given their preferred option because “they live there, we don't.”
An extract from the Sandy Point Domain Reserve Management Plan 2013 stated that the intention was to phase out residents and weekend beds in the domain.
The only residents allowed should be forest rangers and those managing commercial activities, the report said.
The council's parks and leisure team would now contact affected crib owners over a three-month period, supported by the Deputy Mayor.
Māori kaiaka (villages) existed in the area now known as Sandy Point Domain when European whalers and traders settled in the Coopers Creek area, the council report said.
The creek gets its name from a cooper named Owen McShane who settled there in 1836 and made whale oil barrels and coal tree rum.
LDR is local journalism, co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air