A rebrand of Kapiti's tourism image may be tweaked to include the word "coast" amid suggestions its logo looks pornographic or like the Loch Ness monster.

The logo, part of a $30,000 Kapiti Coast District Council contract, polarised opinion when unveiled at last week's meeting.

It includes a 'k', shaped, and coloured green and blue, to look like a mountain and the sea. Underneath is the single word: "Kapiti".

UNDER REVIEW: How Kapiti's new tourism logo might be used in branding.

Councillor Tony Lester backed the logo, which he said was "absolutely excellent".

"We've positioned ourselves for the future, it captures the hills, and the coast, and it captures our future as more of a city."

Others did not agree. Councillor Hilary Wooding said she did not like the 'k', which looked "cut in half".

Councillor Ross Church said the logo was not consistent with council branding and the 'k' would spark all sorts of comments about exactly what it depicts.

"I showed it to a Scots person who said 'it looks like the Loch Ness monster on legs'."

In the public speaking session, Otaki Community Board member Jackie Elliott raised the possibility the logo could be perceived as lewd.

"I have had feedback from the public that this 'k' image with its bent leg, at the knee, is more than mildly pornographic. Perhaps the caption underneath could be 'come to Kapiti and let the earth move for you'."

However most debate at the meeting centred on whether the word "coast", and its associations, should be included in the logo.

Strategic projects manager Philippa Richardson said the decision was based on the idea that Kapiti is much more than just a coast.

Kapiti's Eden Design won the bid to produce the marketing brand that will be owned by the council, but available to all tourism operators.

Councillors voted to delay a decision to approve the logo till a demonstration image including "coast" is presented.

Mr Lester voted against the decision, keen to approve the logo as it stands.

On the question of whether the logo is lewd, Mr Lester said as far as he was concerned "pornography is in the eye of the beholder".