Hawke's Bay regional councillors have voted to let the incoming council consider the perceived conflict of interest some councillors may have over the $600 million Ruataniwha water storage project.
The mayors of Hastings and Napier have raised concerns that three regional councillors are also directors of the council's investment company, HBRIC, which is making the case for the project.
They are concerned those councillors would have a pre-determined position when the regional council takes the final vote on whether to approve the project.
Last month councillors voted to request a report on options to reduce the perception of a conflict of interest, but at a council meeting on Wednesday morning they voted to defer consideration of the options until after the local body elections.
