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The West Indian team, led by Chris Gayle, play the Black Caps in Dunedin from December 11 to 15, with officials encouraging Dunedinites and cricket watchers to use the catch-cry, "it's all white here" and dress in white for the occasion.
The Dunedin City Council and the Otago Cricket Association say the concept mirrors "black-outs" created during the All Blacks'' games in the city.
Edward Ellison, a Ngai Tahu representative from Otago, said the concept might appear "a bit odd" to the visitors. "It seems a wee bit like someone hasn't thought of possible consequences," he said.
However, Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin defended the slogan. "Well, you've got a Chinese mayor, so what's wrong with that?" he said.
"It's only an issue if you make it an issue. Cricketers play tests in white so if you follow that logic, why take the colours of the players into account?" Chin said.
Former New Zealand cricketer Glenn Turner said: "one can become too politically correct" about such slogans. "It's about the tone and I don't think anyone had negative intention here, but whether it's a little bit loose or sloppy is open to comment."
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said there was no problem with the white-out concept although the organisation had refused to grant Otago Cricket's request for a name change to the White Caps for the day.
Dunedin City Council spokeswoman Debra Simes said: "It has nothing to do with race or colour ... we embrace all colours and cultures here."
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