The owner of a newly erected statue of the Hindu god Shiva on his Clevedon property says he never meant to offend anyone.

Auckland neighbours are involved in a religious battle after a giant 6.4m statue of Hindu god Shiva was erected in a backyard.

Ravin Chandar installed the 30-tonne statue for him and his family to pray to, but that's irked his Catholic neighbour, Bryce Watts.

Erecting the giant statue was something Chandar "had to do".



"That was the last thing on the list. I'm done. So if I die tomorrow, I've got no issues," he said, speaking at a celebration of the large religious effigy on Sunday.



"It was a childhood dream and not many people get to fulfil it. If you ask around the Indian community they will tell you not everyone is lucky enough to put up one of these."



He said he didn't talk to the Watts' next door but the council approved the statue.



"I didn't realise god would be offensive to some people. It was never my intention to be offensive. If I knew he had an issue I would have shifted it, it's a big piece of property."



Chandar's neighbours were invited to Sunday's celebration but didn't come.

Lawrence Smith/Fairfax NZ Devout Hindu Ravin Chandar has erected this large statue in his back garden near Clevedon.

"Religiously and culturally it's a bit insensitive to us and I can't believe they're able to do this," Wyatt told nzherald.co.nz.

"Part of our property looks at it and it's part of a religion we don't agree with.

"I don't see why we should have it poked down our throats in such a big way."

However, Watts visited Chandar on Sunday morning to smooth things out.

"He said the papers blew it all out of proportion. I'm a bit lost. He calls and tells my wife something else; he calls and tells the paper something else. Then he comes over and says something else."

Chandar didn't want to disclose the cost of the statue, saying "let's put god and money away".

But the dedication is clear, he said he won't ever be able to sell his house as a result.

He is welcoming the community to come and view the statue.

"God is for everybody. Can't keep it to yourself. Anyone can come."