Christmas

2024 - 12 - 2

Get Ready to Jingle All the Way: Dunedin Christmas Parade Steals the Show! 🎄🎉

Air New Zealand - Budgeting for Christmas - Charity - Christmas - Christmas food kits - Christmas parade - Christmas tree costs - Dunedin - Katikati - Tauranga

From marching bands to Santa's Grotto, Christmas is here, and it's more magical than ever! Check out the festive fun and food kits that are taking over New Zealand!

The streets of Dunedin were bursting with festive cheer last Saturday as thousands turned out for an enchanting Christmas parade that had everything from marching bands to multicultural street performers. Among the twinkling lights and the vibrant floats, Santa Claus led the parade, dazzling onlookers as he maneuvered through a sea of road cones! With the city’s essence sprinkled all over the event, the festive spirit was contagious, bringing families and friends together to celebrate the joy of the Christmas season.

Speaking of festivities, shoppers also got a taste of Christmas spirit as local icon Steve Esson made headlines while doing some early Christmas shopping among the bustling streets of Dunedin. His playful antics caught the eyes of curious onlookers, turning a regular shopping day into a mini spectacle. The atmosphere was positively electric, filled with laughter, cheers, and the delightful sound of Christmas carols serenading everyone who was lucky enough to be part of the festivities.

In another part of the country, Air New Zealand is spreading holiday magic with its newest campaign, aiming to bring joy and cheer to its passengers this festive season. According to Head of Brand Grace Blewitt, the airline is committed to enhancing the holiday experience for millions, promoting not just air travel but also togetherness and community in an increasingly busy world. This campaign would make even the biggest Christmas grouch crack a smile!

Meanwhile, families are pondering the best way to feast this festive season. Kim Knight has put together a comprehensive food kit comparison featuring My Food Bag, Farro, Woop, and several others. From easy prep times to tantalizing menus, these services are here to take the stress out of holiday cooking and bring the focus back to family, friends, and fun. And just when you thought it couldn't get better, Santa's Grotto is making its joyful return to Katikati, promising magical experiences for kids and families eager for a taste of holiday enchantment.

Did you know that the tradition of Christmas parades dates back to the 19th century? It’s incredible how these joyful gatherings have evolved, becoming splendid celebrations of community spirit and fun! And speaking of fun, the festive food kit industry in New Zealand has grown immensely, with an increasing number of Kiwis opting for easy and time-saving meal solutions during the holiday rush, ensuring more time for what truly matters – creating memories with loved ones!

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Image courtesy of "Otago Daily Times"

Thousands gather for spectacular Christmas parade (Otago Daily Times)

Marching bands, multicultural street performers, dozens of colourful floats and Santa Claus himself victoriously traversed an explosion of road cones in ...

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Image courtesy of "Otago Daily Times"

Christmas spirit (Otago Daily Times)

The real McCoy? Steve Esson attracted plenty of attention from Dunedin shoppers on Saturday morning as he did a spot of early Christmas shopping.

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Image courtesy of "Business"

Business.Scoop » Air New Zealand Brings Holiday Magic To The ... (Business)

Air New Zealand Head of Brand Grace Blewitt says the campaign is designed to highlight how the airline brings holiday spirit and cheer to the millions of ...

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Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Which Christmas food kit is best? My Food Bag, Farro, Woop and ... (New Zealand Herald)

Food kits can take the hassle out of festive feasting but which one should you choose? Kim Knight compares menus, cost and prep times from four major...

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Image courtesy of "SunLive"

SunLive - Santa's Christmas Grotto returns to Katikati - The Bay's ... (SunLive)

Santa Claus at the 2023 Santa's Christmas Grotto at The Arts Junction in Katikati. The festive season has officially arrived, and the excitement is building in ...

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Image courtesy of "SunLive"

SunLive - Early Christmas cheer for families in need - The Bay's ... (SunLive)

For 12 years now, in the lead up to Christmas, Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries and the Mount Maunganui Lions have teamed up to pull off a special ...

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Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Experience unique Afro-Kiwi Christmas carols at JingleBeatz ... (New Zealand Herald)

A popular Afro-Kiwi Christmas concert, where favourite festive songs are rearranged in a uniquely African style, is set to become the perfect holiday treat.

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Image courtesy of "Business"

Business.Scoop » Fake Online Shops Surge As Christmas ... (Business)

Press Release – Avast. Avast researchers have identified nearly 80,000 counterfeit websites in 2024 with a surge in the months leading up to the holidays, ...

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Image courtesy of "Chris Lynch"

Meet the mothers spending Christmas in Christchurch Hospital's ... (Chris Lynch)

Canterbury mother Kimberley Aspden faced an impossible choice: spending Christmas with her family or with her one-week-old daughter Emily, who was in ...

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Image courtesy of "Otago Daily Times"

Charity's big push to help parents with a sick child in Chch Hospital ... (Otago Daily Times)

Kimberley Aspden and her daughter Emily in Christchurch Hospital. Photo: Health New Zealand |. Canterbury mum Kimberley Aspden had to choose between spending ...

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Image courtesy of "Pacific Media Network News"

Families juggle tight budgets ahead of Christmas season (Pacific Media Network News)

How to prioritise spending as cost of living pressures increase, and what happens if your payday falls on a public holiday?

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Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Mōrere Hot Springs and reserve to reopen in time for Christmas after ... (New Zealand Herald)

A treasured Hawke's Bay tourism icon is set to reopen after two years of closures filled with natural and supply chain disruptions.

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Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Christmas Appeal: Sports groups' donations boost tally to almost ... (New Zealand Herald)

Almost $45000 in food and funds has been donated to the Tauranga Community Foodbank as the Bay of Plenty Times ' Christmas Appeal hits the halfway mark....

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Image courtesy of "NEWS.com.au"

Christmas tradition Aussies are ditching (NEWS.com.au)

Twinkling Christmas lights are set to be a thing of the past, as surging electricity prices force more Australians to pack away the decorations this festive ...

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Image courtesy of "News"

What's on this December for Christmas? - University of Liverpool News (News)

Give your front door that personal touch this festive season with your own specially created fresh foliage door wreath. Your ticket includes all the decorations ...

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Image courtesy of "Marietta Times"

Here comes Santa Claus: Merry-Etta Christmas Parade lights up ... (Marietta Times)

Large crowds gathered in downtown Marietta Saturday night to partake of some holiday cheer. The annual Merry-Etta Christmas Parade drew people to enjoy par.

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Image courtesy of "The Steubenville Herald-Star"

Many came together for Toronto Christmas event (The Steubenville Herald-Star)

Formerly known as the Toronto Coalition for Revitalization, the group's leaders — Abby LeMasters, Lish Troski and Toni Moreland — set out to offer a family- ...

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Image courtesy of "RNZ"

Ashburton bridge announcement expected before Christmas (RNZ)

The long-awaited project will help reduce congestion along State Highway 1, where the existing bridge has had to close twice due to flooding in recent years ...

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Image courtesy of "British Airways | Media Centre"

Step into Christmas: British Airways decks the halls with festive ... (British Airways | Media Centre)

British Airways is sprinkling Christmas magic across the terminals it operates from at Heathrow and Gatwick, in its lounges globally, and on board as part ...

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Image courtesy of "The Seattle Times"

Why American travelers are choosing Europe for Christmas (The Seattle Times)

European Christmas markets are renowned for providing the perfect festive atmosphere with mulled wine, live performances, dazzling lights and countless food ...

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Image courtesy of "Wanaka App"

'A Storybook Christmas' for Lake Hāwea (Wanaka App)

Christmas Wonderland founders, and 'head elves', Elizabeth Horrell and Barbara Mackenzie. The Hāwea community is getting ready for Christmas, with the annual ...

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Image courtesy of "RNZ"

How to have yourself a thrifty little Christmas (RNZ)

In the latest episode of RNZ podcast Thrift, we look the ways to enjoy Christmas on a budget. Julie and Jacinta are financial mentors at Kingdom Resources ...

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Image courtesy of "Otago Daily Times"

Christmas hamper choice brings smiles (Otago Daily Times)

Caversham Baptist Church associate pastor Sandra Gordon gets Christmas hampers ready for delivery, with help from fellow parishioners. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN.

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Image courtesy of "RNZ"

The cost of Christmas trees is rising across NZ. Here's why (RNZ)

In some places, you could be looking at up to $100 for a tidy, shaped, two-metre pine.

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Image courtesy of "Lowell Sun"

Ask the Psychic: What is Christmas like in Heaven? (Lowell Sun)

DEAR BONNIE: I get very sad this time around the holidays when I think of all my family members who have passed and are no longer here to celebrate ...

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Image courtesy of "Wellington Scoop"

Christmas Tree Festival takes off at Wellington Airport (Wellington Scoop)

A forest of over 60 Christmas trees has transformed Wellington Airport into a festive wonderland, all in support of families living with cystic fibrosis (CF) in ...

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Image courtesy of "Otago Daily Times"

Why is the cost of a Christmas tree rising? (Otago Daily Times)

It was still possible to get cheaper trees, but they would be lower in quality, Christchurch-based Needle Fresh Christmas Tree farm's Andrew McAllister said. If ...

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Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Horowhenua Christmas Parade returns with record 42 floats on ... (New Zealand Herald)

The Horowhenua Christmas Parade and Carnival will be making its much-anticipated return on Saturday, December 7 from 2pm to 6pm. With the support of Higgins ...

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Image courtesy of "Stuff.co.nz"

Charities roll into action to support families in need over Christmas (Stuff.co.nz)

Organised by charity initiative Christmas Box, more than 2000 volunteers across the motu packed more than 29000 boxes over the weekend to help feed families ...

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Image courtesy of "Observer Online"

Merry Christmas, 007 (Observer Online)

The film was directed by Peter Hunt, adapted from Ian Fleming's novel and co-stars Telly Savalas as Bond's nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Diana Rigg as Tracy ...

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Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Americans shocked by Christmas detail in Bluey episode (New Zealand Herald)

American fans of cult kids' TV sensation Bluey have been left confused after spotting the inclusion of a Christmas tradition that appeared to them to be...

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Image courtesy of "Otago Daily Times"

'Christmas present for Ashburton': Bridge announcement expected ... (Otago Daily Times)

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown visited Wellington recently for a Local Government NZ meeting and took the opportunity to pop into the Beehive to meet with ...

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Image courtesy of "RNZ"

How to have yourself a thrifty little Christmas (RNZ)

In the latest episode of RNZ podcast Thrift, we look the ways to enjoy Christmas on a budget. Julie and Jacinta are financial mentors at Kingdom Resources ...

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Image courtesy of "Sentinel & Enterprise"

Ask the Psychic: What is Christmas like in Heaven? (Sentinel & Enterprise)

DEAR BONNIE: I get very sad this time around the holidays when I think of all my family members who have passed and are no longer here to celebrate ...

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Image courtesy of "Irish Examiner"

Thriftmas: How to make the best of Christmas with the whole family ... (Irish Examiner)

All it takes is a little imagination and planning to keep the costs of the festival season under control.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Christmas light display in Stafford 'a lot bigger this year' (BBC News)

Tasha Quick and Elliot Smith, who live on Oxford Gardens in Stafford, decorate their house each year for Halloween and Christmas to raise money for charity.

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