Concerns over diversity information raised by Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark have further delayed the adoption of a council procurement policy.

In May, Clark irked some elected members by stalling adoption of the council’s updated policy until he could meet with staff.

The issue centred on the council now being able to ask businesses whether they recorded diversity data when making a tender, even though the answers would not impact their chances of securing a contract.

On Tuesday, the policy was back on the table for another round of discussion.

Council group manager finance and assurance Patricia Christie explained the 2025 policy allowed for social and sustainable procurement, but did not require it.

Questions which could be asked under the updated policy included whether the business recorded diversity data, was local, or monitored carbon impact.

The information received by the council would not form part of the tender assessment process, Christie said.

Clark took exception to that point, saying if he didn’t collect diversity data and missed out on a tender, he would wonder if that were true.

“If they’re not going to use it, why have it there?”

But councillor Lesley Soper said the new policy was a first step in moving the council towards achieving goals of social and sustainable procurement — elements which were mentioned in an earlier version.

The questions would not be asked for every contract, and staff would be trusted to make that call, she said.

Councillor Alex Crackett sought confirmation that asking such questions was something the majority of councils and commercial entities were doing as part of the tender process.

In response, council procurement manager Helen Hodgkinson confirmed that was the case, saying it was a global standard across both the private and public sector.

Ultimately, adoption of the updated policy was lost after Clark used his casting vote to shut it down following a 6 - 6 split decision.

The document will now go back to a committee which has both previously discussed it and recommended its adoption.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air