Keep Dunedin Beautiful recently announced plans to create a new artwork in place of the "George Street Cats" mural, which was designed by Cornelia Fechner in 1989 and painted by pupils of Otago Girls’ High School.
The plan led to outrage on social media and prompted Dunedin man Doug Fraser to start a petition, which had nearly 900 signatures by late last night.
Petition creator Doug Fraser did not see why the mural needed to be changed.
He believed the Keep Dunedin Beautiful organisation decided to change the mural without realising how attached the community was to it.
"Let's find a win-win where they can have their new mural and we can keep the old mural.
"I'm happy to fundraise if they need funds. That's what it means for me."
"They might not realise the strength of feeling that they're working up against a few locals."
Keep Dunedin Beautiful chairwoman Mandy Mayhem was aware of public "preciousness" about the old mural and stressed the cats would be commemorated alongside the new mural.
"People have gotten accustomed to it and I understand their endearment, because that is what public art is all about.
"It gives people a sense of belonging, ownership and wellbeing."
The mural would be replaced by a new mural reading ‘Ōtepoti’ and would be designed by pupils from seven North Dunedin schools.
"Cats will be incorporated into the mural in some shape or form."
The cats would be "time-capsuled" with a plaque on the wall near the new mural and bus stop.
"We're hoping to transfer that same sense of wellbeing and belonging to the next generation of kids who are all participating in the new design."
Depending on the weather, the mural was likely to be completed in February.
