"Pester them if you have to. It's an Otago issue, it involves everyone," Mr Ellison, of Karitane, said at a public meeting, attended by about 100 people at the Skeggs Gallery last night.
Speakers at the meeting, organised by Friends of the Otago Harbour, also included Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, Southern Clam's Roger Belton and PhD oceanography student Peter Russell.
Mr Ellison said the runanga was against plans to dump 7.2 million cubic metres of sediment, 6.5km north of Taiaroa Head.
"We need to save this beautiful province of ours. It'll be totally ruined if silt is dumped past Taiaroa Head."
East Otago Taiapure Management Committee scientific adviser Dr Chris Hepburn said he was concerned fine sediments from the dredging would negatively impact on the ocean and harbour's food sources.
Committee chairman Brendan Flack said it took 20 years to set up the Taiapure and comments had been made that it could be wiped out by the dredging "if they dump the soil on our doorstep".
Marine scientist Dr Liz Slooten said the sediments, which could contain contaminants, and the dredging could have an impact on the many species of sea birds, sensitive fish eggs and the Hector's dolphins which lived in the area.
A site further away from any area of high biological diversity should be considered as an alternative dump site, she said.
Cr Paul Hudson, speaking from the audience, said there was concern more dredging would cause more erosion along the inner harbour and lead to more noise for those living near the port.
However, the community needed the port for the trade and the jobs.
"We've got to find a solution."
Aramoana resident Adrienne Hall said his community was concerned about the impact on its "extraordinarily frail" salt marsh.
