Mr Wilkinson said the incident sparked a message not to carry mock weapons in public.
"Don't carry imitation firearms, in a suspicious manner, in public, or police will act accordingly."
He said the man who was spotted with the replica gun did not realise the fuss it would cause when he brought it out.
"He had no idea of the enormity of the situation, he thought it was just something he'd made."
There were fines and charges that could be issued for carrying a replica weapon but it depended on the circumstances.
There have been two occasions where police have shot and killed people carrying real guns in Whangarei.
On November 20, 1995, Barry Radcliffe was shot and killed by an armed officer after taking a rifle from a sporting goods store in Rust Ave.
On October 23, 2008, methamphetamine addict Lee Jane Mettam was shot in the doorway of a shop in Reyburn St. Mettam had held a staff member hostage.
She died at the scene.