Mr Black said the pair were disputing the bill for the rescue, which took a helicopter crew two hours on December 3.
The pair were rescued from the banks of the flooded Shotover River after one of their empty kayaks was seen floating downstream.
They had been advised not to go on the river by a rafting company.
Shotover Jet and all rafting businesses did not operate on the river that day because of the rising water.
The Shotover River usually runs at between 7cumecs and 30cumecs but that day it peaked at 200cumecs.
"They say they didn't need rescuing. When we find an upturned kayak, we cannot not go.
"We had a helicopter and crew out in record time. We had a diver on board for the thicker end of two hours searching. Why should we as a community pay for that?" Mr Black said.
