Mr Christison applied for a dispensation from council and explained to its chief executive, Blair King, the dilemma in which he found himself.
"Mr King said he wasn't prepared to apply to the Office of the Auditor General for me because he said there were plenty of other people to do the work," he said.
Mr King confirmed this was the case.
"What we are dealing with at the moment is that we could have a number of contractors of the same size and experience as Ernie, so we have to back up our advice to councillors," he said.
"We are trying to avoid that type of inference people will try and draw from this situation. Council has to be transparent and withstand scrutiny by all parties.
"Mr Christison is required to manage his conflict of interest and council itself never resolved to engage with the Office of the Auditor General on his behalf."
Mr Christison said he won jobs because he put in cheaper tenders than competitors.
"It's value for the ratepayers. At a December meeting at council I declared I had an interest in the Woodville job, but I had no inside information as a councillor for my tender."
Mr King said he was unaware of any similar situation occurring in Tararua previously.
Mr Christison said council staff member Tom Dodd contracted him to do the work on the Woodville Kliptank site at the racecourse on McLean St because he had the experience required.
"I cleared trees and rubbish, then told Tom this was going to be expensive," Mr Christison said.
"He said just do it. On the second day of work I went to Mr King and then, on January 16, I wrote a letter to the Auditor General.
"On January 24, I stopped working on the project and it was left to Downers to complete."
Mr Christison said in the last financial year he had completed $170,000 work for council, and the total had been $200,000 the year before.
"I did $70,000 of work at Akitio and $90,000 on the new Pahiatua recycling centre.
"It's not fair if contractors can't use me as a sub-contractor, but I realise I have to get this sorted or I could be dismissed as a district councillor."
Mr Christison said he obtained sub-contract work because of his keen pricing, his experience and good track record.
Today council chief finance officer Raj Suppiah is presenting a draft conflict-of-interest policy to councillors.
The aim is to strengthen the procedures and guidelines for councillors, to emphasise elected members are disqualified from office, or from election to that office, if they take part in any council discussions or vote on any matter in which they have a pecuniary interest, without prior consent from the Office of the Auditor General.
Mr Christison said that in council he had always declared any interest and not voted when he was a party to the situation being discussed.