Geoff Denton has been Levin's big man in red for over 20 years but in 2007 the job was given to someone else.
The story made the TVNZ One News - this link takes you to their web page where you can click on the Rleated Video link to see the story.
Storm in a Santa suit in Levin
Nov 28, 2007 7:12 PM
The town's big man in red has been given the sack after 20 years in the job
He has been Levin's Father Christmas for the past two decades but this year was the first time Geoff Denton did not ride atop the sleigh in the Christmas parade through the Horowhenua town.
"People kept asking me in the street when we gonna see you on the float, I said no I'm not on the float this year...They got somebody else to do the job," says Denton.
He says he is disappointed with the Horowhenua District Council.
"This time the committee decided Geoff has done an incredibly good job after 20 years. The committee decided they wanted a change and like all of these appointments we review those on an annual basis and we'll be doing the same next year as well," says David Ward, Horowhenua District Council spokesperson.
Denton went along to the Christmas parade and heckled the new Santa.
"He had a wig on and it made him look like he had a big afro wig on and I couldn't see his hat&it had fallen off and a lot of people said to me they said he had trouble keeping his beard on," says Denton,
But the good folk of Levin are keeping an open mind, with many of the folk not having a problem with the new Santa.
"He was alright when his beard stayed on," says a man, who attended the parade.
"I think he could've had a bigger belly but apart from that it's alright," says a woman.
Denton says he will apply for the job next year.
"Of course I would. You know I don't want to let kids down. I love kids to bits," says Denton about his lost job.
For now the part-time Santa is getting back to his day job and giving the red suit a summer break.
Retrieved 14/12/2007 from http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/423466/1466215