The submission form that will be sent out to ratepayers as part of the Wanganui District Council's Annual Plan process has had one section of the document termed racist.
The claim was made by deputy-Mayor Rangi Wills at Monday's council meeting who said he found the question asking submitters to indicate their ethnicity "quite racist".
Anyone making a submission is also asked to indicate their gender and age but, like the question about their ethnic status, answering those questions is entirely optional.
Council policy and corporate planning manager Stephanie Rose said the questions were included in an effort to get a better understanding of who the submitters were.
"If we don't get a response from one particular ethnic grouping, then we can find out why that is happening," Ms Rose said.
Council chief executive officer Kevin Ross said that the same optional questions had been included in last year's Annual Plan submission form.
Councillor Allan Anderson said the form was a submission only, "not a census form".
"What is relevant is what our citizens are thinking, nothing more," Mr Anderson said.
But Mayor Annette Main said the question was included to give the council a greater connection with the community.
"The explanation from the officers is perfectly sensible to me," Ms Main said.
Councillor Hamish McDouall said if the questions were aimed at improving the democratic process, then "it's got to be good for us". "If it's a useful tool, then include it," he said.
Plan submissions open on April 8 and close on May 8.