Engaged legal services were also looking for clarification around what specific oil and gas activities would come under the prohibition, and whether there would be an interest in the prohibition extending to activities in some, or all parts of the marine area.
The regional council's jurisdiction covers the 12 nautical mile limit off Hawke Bay.
During consultation on the Block Offer 2017 - through which the Government seeks to attract companies for oil and gas exploration in designated blocks around the country - council requested a proposed block which included acreage inside this jurisdiction be excluded.
This suggestion was met with support by a number of committee members, including Napier councillor Paul Bailey, who said this would have been his expectation.
Allen Smith of Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa said through iwi's point of view, "anything that happens on land in regards to the prohibition of oil and gas should happen in the moana too".
This sentiment was echoed by meeting co-chair Toro Waaka, who cited concerns about offshore seismic surveying - including reports of dead fish floating ashore over the past month.
Next month this preliminary legal advice will be included in a more comprehensive draft work programme presented to the committee.
In a report, council group manager strategic development James Palmer reminded the committee staff had not been resourced for this project, meaning external costs were budgeted "up to $145,000 of unspent funds borrowed by the previous council in the 2015-25 Long Term Plan to consider oil and gas regulatory matters".
Some of these funds had been used during 2016-17 for work on Regional Energy Futures and the regional energy strategy initiatives, he stated.
In his report, Mr Palmer noted the council retained the ability to stop further drafting, or terminate the project entirely if issues emerged "through the pre-notification consultation and S32 evaluation phases that warrant a change of approach".