A short history on the giant Santa...

Lets face it, a Christmas in Auckland CBD, wouldn't be a Christmas without the giant Santa! Since 1960, Santa has been bringing joy to Aucklanders with his jolly face and round belly.  

Thousands watch the 1983 Farmers Santa Parade

By the early 2000's Santa had earned a rather unappealing nickname - 'Creepy Santa'

But by the early 2000's, after nearly 40 years, Santa's face was looking anything but jolly and had earned a rather unappealing nickname - 'Creepy Santa'. So in late 2008, when the future of Santa was in jeopardy, we ran a poll asking Aucklander's whether Santa, should stay or go. The over-whelming response was that as an Auckland icon Santa should stay. So in early 2009, we started the arduous task of giving Santa a much needed makeover. 

Santa in 2010, accompanied by giant reindeer

Compare and contrast. Old Santa Vs New Santa

After almost a year 'under the knife', Santa's new look was unveiled in time for Christmas 2009 and this time he wasn't alone. 2 giant reindeer accompanied Santa.

So to celebrate the giant Santa going up for 2011, we have put together some interesting facts you may have previously not known about the big red jolly guy. 

• Santa is 51 years old
• He weighs approximately two tonnes & stands 68 ft tall (or 2072.64cm)
• He was constructed in time for Christmas 1960
• Santa started blinking and moving each morning at 7am and was turned off, 16 hours later at 11pm. During this time his finger beckoned people to Farmers 27 times a minute, or 25,920 times a day. His eye blinked seven times a minute; 6720 times every day. He was originally perched outside of the Farmers building on Hobson Street (now the Heritage Hotel) until 1990. 
• In the mid-90's Santa moved to his current home, onto of the Whitcoulls Building (Cnr Queen & Victoria Streets)
• In 2007, Heart of the City purchased Santa from Whitcoulls for $1
• In 2009, Santa received a makeover and received 2 new 'mates' 2 giant reindeer

Installing Santa and the reindeer on Whitcoulls Corner is only one of the many Christmas decorations we install around the CBD. To find out what we have planned for Christmas 2011 click here...