Whangarei Mayor Morris Cutforth says he's not concerned by a poll showing a majority of people don't want a Hundertwasser building in the city.
The Whangarei council is set to approve the $13 million gallery, envisioned by the late Austrian artist Friedrich Hundertwasser, when it adopts a long term plan next week.
A survey of 450 people, commissioned by a councillor with doubts about the project, has found 62% opposed.
But Mr Cutforth says the same survey company predicted a close result when he ran for mayor and he won in a landslide.
Mr Cutforth is on record as saying he believes the silent majority of Whangarei people are in favour of the Hundertwasser project.
The council is budgeting to spend $8 million and hopes to get the remaining $5 million from elsewhere.
