Robert Herewini played the role of Santa in the 2018 Nelson Santa Parade.

Organisers of Nelson's Sunday Santa Parade have apologised for replacing their traditional Santa with Hana Kōkō.

Santa Parade Trust event director Mark Soper said the trust was "truly sorry that the parade did not live up to expectations, and are saddened to hear so many people were disappointed".

Soper said the trust had "learnt a lot" from the experience, and while they hoped to build on the parade's multi-cultural elements, next year would see the return of a "traditional Santa Claus".

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

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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.

BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF The organisers of the Nelson Santa Parade have apologised after a traditional Santa did not appear in the event.

The non-appearance of a traditional Santa left parents angry and children who attended the parade confused and upset.

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

A Nelson City Council spokesman Paul Shattock said many people had been disappointed that a traditional Santa had not been included.

The council appreciated what the organisers were trying to achieve, they had met with them to pass on the feedback received from the community.

While council provided a funding grant to assist the Santa Parade Trust, it did not have any influence over the decisions or the organisation of the event.

Shattock said the council "was working with our partners to bring Santa to the city centre very soon".

"[Council] appreciates that for many children seeing Santa in the weeks before Christmas is a very important and special part of Christmas festivities."

Shattock said elected members and council staff had also been the target of significant abuse following this event.

"This is not okay, regardless of people's viewpoint, sending abusive messages and targeting people who had no input into decisions or organising the event is unacceptable, and not in the spirit of Christmas."

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