Hunter Macdonald in court for wilful damage over Len Lye Water Whirler

The man who allegedly destroyed a $300,000 sculpture on Wellington's waterfront has appeared in court this morning.

Hunter Macdonald, 28, appeared in the Wellington District Court on a charge of wilful damage after he was filmed climbing and snapping the Len Lye Water Whirler last month.

Macdonald did not entered a plea to the charge, but was instead remanded to a date at the end of the month.

His defence lawyer said there was still a dispute over the cost of the reparation.

Macdonald was remanded on bail.

Macdonald has publicly admitted to being the person shared across social media, which showed the sculpture bending as he climbed it, until it snapped at the base and hit him on the head as he fell into the water.

A man was filmed climbing and breaking the sculpture on Wellington's waterfront last month. Photo / Supplied

He was taken to hospital with a gash on his head after the incident.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester earlier labelled the behaviour "an act of utter stupidity".

"I encourage people to think twice about doing something this silly.

"I've seen some pretty silly acts in my time ... this was certainly a very negligent act of a public display of bravado which really backfired quite seriously, but he shouldn't have been there in the first place.

Hunter Macdonald appeared in court charged over breaking Wellington's Water Whirler sculpture. Photo /Melissa Nightingale

"I look forward to the justice system taking its course."

The Len Lye sculpture had been undergoing maintenance following damage caused during the Kaikoura earthquake when the sea water got into it and fried the electrics and was due to be back in action this month.