The Father Christmas sacked over his controversial comments about female Santas won't be returning to the Auckland parade this year – but stands by his comments.

Neville Baker, the director of Santa hire agency My Santa, found himself with a lump of coal in his stocking last Christmas after saying his company wouldn't cast women as Santa Claus.

He said they did employ women as Santa's Helpers in "a little skirt and top" – comments that led to him being removed from the parade, where he had previously served as Santa. He was later reinstated, but won't be riding on the sleigh at the annual event this Sunday.

His views on whether Santa can be played by a woman haven't changed, he said: "I'm traditional, I'm 900 years old."

Some things were "sacrosanct", he said – and that included a man being inside Santa's suit.

"New Zealand leads the field in women and that's great, give women the vote [...] but some things never change," Baker said.

"Next thing you'll be trying to make the Pope a woman."

Chris McKeen/Stuff Neville Baker - aka Santa Claus - at last year's Santa parade in Auckland.

Asked whether we would ever see Santa played by a woman, he said it was likely to happen at the same time a man was cast as Wonderwoman, or a woman as Superman.

However, he wouldn't comment on how the all-female cast of the 2016 Ghostbusters remake factored into this.

Women were employed by My Santa as Mrs Claus, Santa's elves and photographers, Baker said, but none as old Nick.

Chris McKeen/Stuff This year will see a different Santa don the suit for Auckland's annual parade.

He said it all came down to whether a woman could be believable in the role of Santa.

That is what the law hangs off as well. While it is illegal to discriminate against potential employees based on their sex, the exception to that rule is the "authenticity" argument.

This lets employers hire people on the basis of their sex where it is necessary part of a job, for example casting actors or actresses for certain roles.

Neville said his stance came down to supply and demand.

If someone requested a female Santa Claus he would try to find one, he said – "but I'm not going to go out there and give myself brain damage for nothing".

Auckland Parade general manager Pam Glaser confirmed the role of Santa would be filled by a "longstanding Parade volunteer" in the Auckland parade on Sunday.