Dunedin City Council community development and events manager Joy Gunn said the message on the base of the tree in the Octagon was to be replaced with the previously used "Season’s Greetings" last night, after an unpopular "Happy Holidays" decoration appeared to have been slashed some time yesterday morning.
The "Season’s Greetings" message was used for the previous seven years, but replaced this year due to some wear and tear, Ms Gunn said.
The damaged banner cost about $3500 and the incident was reported to police, she said.
"This is an interim measure for this year and in the lead up to next Christmas we will be talking with the community about options for decorating the tree and base."
The ‘‘Happy Holidays’’ banner was seen by many as a sign of misguided political correctness.
In an Otago Daily Times poll of 1700 people, 61% said they would prefer a "Merry Christmas" message, 25% did not mind the "Happy Holidays" slogan and 14% did not care either way.
Earlier this week, Hard to Find Bookshop owner Warwick Jordan said he offered to pay the council to change it to a traditional "Merry Christmas", but this was rejected.
There has never been a "Merry Christmas" message under the tree.
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Without the word Christ in Christmas there is nothing to celebrate. Back to work everyone.
This whole thing has been the biggest crock of you know what. I liked happy holidays, I don't think the words Christ needs to be on there at all. What a waste of time, energy and ratepayers money. All you Christians behaving like children who had a toy taken away should all be ashamed of yourselves.