Fences were installed on Marine Parade by Napier City Council before being swiftly removed at an "astounding" cost to the taxpayer of almost $7500.
Blue Water Lodge owner Thomas Whitehead said he was surprised when the fences sprang up around BBQ areas last month.
"They were absolutely ugly - they lasted about two days. Then on Sunday at 6.30 at night a big team of them pulled everything out."
A council spokeswoman said at the time the fences were put up to protect surrounding plants which had been damaged.
But once they went up they were "deemed not to be suitable - more from an aesthetic reason than anything else, and so we've removed them and are looking at other options".