Bruce Comfort, in a letter to the editor of the Oamaru Mail and others, said the sculpture, which is above a Tyne St building and used to advertise a Steampunk-themed virtual-reality attraction, Dr Kano's Fantastic Flight, was a ''celebration of interpersonal violence''.
The attraction opened during the Steampunk NZ Festival held in Oamaru at Queen's Birthday weekend.
''I don't think we need lifelike forms on our heritage buildings as decoration when they come with a crazed smile, two guns, three hand grenades a huge knife and four sticks of dynamite, plus a billy club, etc,'' Mr Comfort wrote.
''It is possible that this action of mine might open/reopen discussion of what and how decoration of the exterior of our heritage buildings that are business premises now first and foremost, gets dealt with, but that is not inevitable and is a bridge we can cross if needed.
''I am fervently anti-firearms and violence (always have been) and [the Dr Kano sculpture] offends me deeply.''
Mr Comfort yesterday reiterated his concerns with the public display of ''anti-personnel weapons''.
''We should be able to depend on the rules of the district plan to ensure they don't become one of the fixed tools people think they can decorate buildings with anywhere; not just in the heritage zone, anywhere.''
He had sought an opinion from Waitaki District Council planning manager Peter Kloosterman and was informed the sculpture was not permitted under the council's district plan, he said in his letter.
Yesterday, Mr Kloosterman said the council had ''advised the landowner that they need to apply for a consent''.
The sculpture was being treated as signage for the business and he pointed to the business heritage rules in the district plan, which read: ''specific controls aim to maintain and enhance the special visual qualities of the area and retain the architectural integrity of the buildings as a group. A range of activities are provided for to encourage continuing use of the buildings and to enhance the vitality of this part of Oamaru.''
Nigel Rooney, who spoke on behalf of the landowner, John Rooney, said discussions were under way with the council.
Artist Don Paterson, creator or co-creator of many of the town's Steampunk-themed public art pieces (including the train in front of Steampunk HQ, playground equipment in the Steampunk playground at Friendly Bay and the Galley Cafe), who had an interest in the virtual-reality business, was asked to create the sculpture as ''a point of difference'' for the building, Mr Rooney said.
He had been in contact with many business owners in the area who thought the sculpture was ''great for the area'', but he was aware of Mr Comfort's position and that he was ''pretty adamant about the situation'', he said.
Dialogue and compromise would probably be required, Mr Rooney said.
''We're pretty confident it can be resolved at this stage.''
Mr Paterson declined to comment yesterday.
A council spokeswoman said yesterday the council would need to research whether the nearby Steampunk HQ train, immediately next to the business heritage zone, was also considered signage.
