Nelson's Santa parade has taken a bi-cultural approach, but it caused confusion among some of Santa's young fans.

The white-bearded, jolly man was replaced in Sunday's parade by a Māori man representing Santa Claus.

The sleigh led by Santa's reindeer was ridden down Trafalgar St with the merry elves, but Santa's traditional suit was ditched for a red korowai (Māori cloak), worn by Robert Herewini.

Community Arts Works Trust designed the costumes and art for the parade, and secretary Mark Soper said the idea behind the Māori Santa was "bi-culturalism leading multi-culturalism".

"That's the modern-day reality, we have a multicultural society. One third of Nelsonians are born outside of Nelson."

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He said the idea of Santa as an old man with a white beard wasn't necessarily correct.

"Who's to say ... that is accurate anyway.

"It's also created to entertain and make people feel good, and in Nelson, we're a bit more Wearable Art and adventurous."

The crowd had mixed reviews about the bicultural Santa.

Carlo Weigand said he thought it was "fantastic".

"What a surprise. So Kiwi."

BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF The crowd greeted the Māori Santa with mixed reviews, some feeling like the children were let down without the traditional Santa.

Some people could be overheard supporting the Māori Santa, while other children showed their disapproval by the look on their face or their questions of where the "real" Santa was.

Regan Murdoch took his daughters, Madison Roberts-Murdoch, 4 and Jasmine Roberts-Murdoch, 3, to the parade. He said the bicultural Santa wasn't how little children perceived him.

"We went to the Richmond parade and I dress up as Santa every year for them, so the first thing they said was, he was different from the real Santa.

"Would have been better if they had both Santas."

One parent was overhead asking how he was going to explain to his daughter that "that man was coming down the chimney on Christmas eve".

Parade goers aired their disappointment online, with most comments showing outrage at the unexpected Santa.

"We had tears after that parade with Santa being a no-show."

"Dear Nelson City Council. It's hard enough being a parent at Christmas without you throwing us under the bus."

"Santa is an INTERNATIONAL ICON, not Kiwi."

BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF Robert Herewini played the role of Santa in the 2018 Nelson Santa Parade.

Santa parades have been sparking controversy around the country this year, including the black face float in Taranaki and the 'Rednek Xmas' float by Nelson jeweller, Glen James, brandishing the Confederate flag at the Richmond parade – absent from the Nelson parade.

Soper said the parade had created "something memorable".

"That's what art does, it's made to make people think."

For next year's parade, he said he was picking it would be "even more multicultural".

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