Auckland's St Matthew-in-the-City church will not be putting up another controversial Christmas billboard this year.

In the third attack in three days on the Anglican Church's poster of Joseph and Mary in bed, an elderly woman has slashed it with a knife. The latest attack has prompted church officials to take it down for good.

Archdeacon Glynn Cardy says it is a sad but sensible decision.

"We will put up another billboard but it won't be of the same controversial nature."

The billboard, was erected on Thursday morning before being vandalised by a man who painted over it. It was then stolen and a replacement version was consequently slashed.

Archdeacon Cardy is worried someone will end up injured if there are any further attacks. He says St Matthew's has received hundreds of emails and phone calls about the billboard and two thirds of them have been positive. He says despite the vandalism, the billboard has been a huge success, because it has got people talking.

The billboard which carried the slogan "Poor Joseph, God was a hard act to follow" was intended to get people thinking about spiritual matters.