Tourism Waitaki in September confirmed a locals discount would no longer apply between October 1 and March 31.
Residents would no longer be eligible for discounted rates at the penguin colony and would pay up to $45 for premium evening viewing during that period instead of $9.
And instead of $5, local adults would pay $20 for entry to Whitestone City.
When the Waitaki District Council-controlled Tourism Waitaki presented its annual report to the council last week, Cr Tavendale said ratepayers contributed $500,000 a year through council operating grants.
"I must say, I'm really uncomfortable with the change in price for locals,'' Cr Tavendale said.
"The locals are already paying in a huge way.''
She asked Tourism Waitaki chairman Mike McElhinney for his view on the issue.
When Mr McElhinney tried to pass the question on to Tourism Waitaki general manager Margaret Munro, Cr Tavendale insisted he answer the question.
"The board's view is that we would back Margaret's view on this,'' Mr McElhinney then said.
Mrs Munro told the Otago Daily Times at the time of the announcement "capacity issues'' had prompted the change.
"Some nights ... this summer we are already booked out. That's why we're trying to get the availability for visitors to be able to see the experience if they are only here for one night, whereas locals have got the opportunity to go year-round, really,'' she said.
"It seems silly to to say to visitors who visit here 'No you can't come and see them because we've got locals filling up the seats'. It's just a common sense thing, really.''
She did not think the decision to charge residents full price during peak season would put them off the idea of taking people from outside the district to the penguin colony.
Mrs Munro took over as general manager in March and inherited a deficit created by the underperforming new Victorian-themed venture, Whitestone City.
Whitestone City earned $34,584 for the six-month period ending December 31, 2017, against a budgeted figure of $140,000.
Tourism Waitaki posted a $61,512 deficit for this year, but Mrs Munro told councillors attendance had improved since changes were made to the attraction's configuration.
Tourism Waitaki director Adair Craik confirmed that, comparing one September to another: 159 people visited Whitestone City in the month last year and 504 visited in September this year.
