The 11 markers, or tohu whenua, beside Te Aka Ōtākou helped to share mana whenua perspectives and enhance the experience of people who used the path, including visitors to Dunedin, council chief executive Sandy Graham said.
They cost $141,544, excluding GST.
Speaking before his election loss, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich described them as interpretation panels and said people who sought out trails appreciated this additional element.
The cost of the signs was disclosed on the council’s website after an information request from city council candidate Robert Hamlin, who has reservations about how the project was funded.
Staff confirmed the tohu whenua were authorised by the council and they were approved and installed by the transport department after assessment by a council traffic engineer.
The installation cost of $41,234, excluding GST, was covered by the council’s transportation budget.
The cost of development and fabrication of $100,310, excluding GST, was covered by the council’s Enterprise Dunedin budget.
Dr Hamlin ended up being unsuccessful in the election.
He said he doubted the installations were "relevant to the core mission of Enterprise Dunedin" and there was "no way that you could possibly say that these monuments in any way ease the flow of traffic around this city".
Enterprise Dunedin is the council’s economic development and destination marketing agency, which includes a tourism function.
Ms Graham highlighted the path belonged to the council after NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi’s earlier involvement in construction work and funding.
"The tohu whenua are funded from within our transport budget because responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of Te Aka Ōtākou was transferred to the DCC ... and now sits with our transport team," she said in a statement last week.
Ms Graham referred to the council’s Te Pae Māori governance forum and partnership with mana whenua.
"We’re incredibly proud of our relationship with mana whenua and our collective mahi to incorporate more Kāi Tahu values into Ōtepoti Dunedin’s built environment, consistent with our Treaty of Waitangi responsibilities and our Te Pae Māori commitments," she said.
"Mana whenua perspectives have been absent from our city centre, public spaces, facilities and infrastructure for far too long and projects like the George St redevelopment and Ko te Tūhono sculpture in the Octagon are an important part of addressing this.
"So, too, are the tohu whenua installed along Te Aka Ōtākou, which — as well as being entirely consistent with our partnership approach — provide a unique offering for visitors and residents alike, acting as a drawcard for people coming to Ōtepoti Dunedin and those exploring Te Aka Ōtākou."
Mana whenua-owned consultancy firm Aukaha was paid $100,310 for its contribution to the project, Zeal Steel $8578.74, Heritage Properties NZ $1512.48 and Fulton Hogan $31,142.79.
Dr Hamlin said he was of a mind to to "question the size of the invoice" from the consultants.
City councillor Christine Garey said she was exceptionally proud of the tohu whenua being completed.
The project was a long time in the making, she said.
"They are sited along Te Aka Ōtākou and speak to the rich cultural history that has been missing for so long," Cr Garey said.
"It is a beautiful addition to Te Aka Ōtākou — a project only made possible by our partnership with mana whenua at various stages of getting the project consented and funded over many years."
