The tree was installed last week with a ''Happy Holidays'' banner wrapped around it, which has since sparked public debate.
Hard to Find Bookshop owner Warwick Jordan said yesterday he wanted to change it to a traditional ''Merry Christmas'' greeting as it was a ''Christmas tree, not a holiday tree''.
Christmas was a time for the community to come together in celebration and Mr Jordan said the sign was not inclusive.
''Christmas is part of being a New Zealander; let us be proud of our Christmas and celebrate it all together,'' he said.
Mr Jordan had contacted Mayor Dave Cull's office yesterday morning to offer to pay for the replacement banner.
Otago Daily Times' questions for Dunedin City Council staff yesterday were referred to community and culture committee chairman Cr Aaron Hawkins.
He said the council had ''received offers to pay for a replacement banner, but we won't be taking those up''.
Instead, Cr Hawkins said the level of abuse directed at council staff over the issue ''has been embarrassing''.
''I hope those who have engaged in this bullying behaviour have a long hard look at themselves.
''We do acknowledge that our celebrations need to be as inclusive and as reflective of our community as possible, values I've always considered to be core Christian values, and we'll look to make sure that happens next year.''
Cr Hawkins was unavailable when further comment was sought late yesterday afternoon.
-By Kayla Hodge
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Comments
'Happy Holidays'? What do you expect from a Council dominated by Green-Left interests? It's all about virtue signalling, folks. 'We are virtuous because we are inclusive'.
If you've never been to Egypt - note to Council, a Muslim majority country - you will find Christmas trees everywhere. They enjoy it so much they have Christmas twice: Western and Orthodox.
A pox on your virtue signalling political correctness.
Aaron Hawkins! People passionately objecting to your decision does not make them bullies! You are elected to represent the residents, not tell them what’s appropriate & call them names. I suggest you take a good look too. Perhaps this response has taken you by surprise, that just shows that you are out of touch with those you are supposed to be representing.
Of course DCC rejected the offer. They are just hell bent on being as politically correct as possible, too scared of upsetting 1% of the population that they upset 99% of us. There is just too much petty left wing greens ideology at working at DCC and that includes councilors and staff.
I don't find the message particularly upsetting, but the fact that they've targeted the message to be non offensive to those that don't recognise Xmas then attached it to a Xmas tree is the part that is challenging to comprehend. Being a secular society is not about marginalising different religious/ ethnic holidays but celebrating them all.
Aaron Hawkins, you should take a long look at yourself! It is and always will be Merry Christmas not Happy Holidays. You and Dame Susan need to get over being PC and pandering to the minority. They choose to live in our beautiful country, they fit in to our community. Sure they can have their religious beliefs, but don't try and change ours!
As always spineless politicians bend over to the politically correct agenda and forget where are they from, what their ancestor fought for. Europe is a mess for these reasons too, so being proud of national identity ( and religion is part of that, in spite of what the leftist/liberals might say) is something to show and not to hide. This country really need to look at the current examples around of the world to understand what this agenda might lead to.
Spot on. Pleased that there are at least a few of us that realise what's at stake here.
Great move Aaron... not a cent to be spent on that stupid capitalist money grab call christmas... Hope you have a pleasurable break Aaron.
''We do acknowledge that our celebrations need to be as inclusive and as reflective of our community as possible, values I've always considered to be core Christian values, and we'll look to make sure that happens next year.''Gives us a break. Once again Chairman Hawkins putting his rubber stamp all over anything that resembles Western heritage; It must be stamped out! It is an utterly disingenuous pretense to try and cite "Christian values" when he and his ilk despise Western Christian heritage and in the process he thinks it is clever to freely misconstrue the Christian ethos to suit his narrative.
Really heartening to see that there are plenty of people out there are pushing back against the post-modern rubbish that we are seeing so often these days.
In New Zealand Christmas is a festival for everyone to enjoy, regardless of what you believe. I really think that we need to be a little bit more assertive about our culture - and not push it into the background as though it's something to be ashamed of.
Also, have you noticed that it's always the post-modernists getting offended "on behalf" of other groups, while the groups in question are usually happy to just get on with it?
And while we're on that, why do we keep saying "certain groups might be offended" - are we not allowed to know who the DCC think might be offended by a sign that says Merry Christmas? P.S - I'm an atheist
Like many people who object to the craven "Happy Holidays", I have no wish to bully anybody, least of all DCC staff. That doesn't change the fact I have a right to register my opposition to such an irrelevant greeting. Why can't we say "Merry Christmas"?? That's not exclusive or un-PC. It's what we celebrate (and say) in this country and in this town. I can't imagine anyone could possibly be offended by that. Be brave DCC and gather up your courage to wish the residents of Dunedin a Merry Christmas. Don't hide behind expressions that don't have any resonance with the community. Why be ashamed of celebrating Christmas? It's part of our culture. Own it.
Just another example of the DCC running rough shod over the people of Dunedin.