Auckland's 'creepy' Santa gets the sack
Auckland's Santa, which has proudly towered above Queen Street for almost 60 years, is being retired after this year's festive season. First installed in 1960 on the Farmers building on Hobson street the 19-metre statue has polarised Aucklanders. In 2011 he was named as the world's most unintentionally creepy Christmas decoration by Cracked.com. An attempt to retire him in 2014 was met with backlash by the public and a number of companies banded together to keep him going. A statement from Heart of the City, who owns the statue, said it was costing too much to maintain the weary Santa and it was time to retire him. "We know Santa is well-loved by many Aucklanders," said Viv Beck, CEO of Heart of the City. "But sadly, for a combination of reasons it is time to retire this model." "We love Santa too so it wasn’t an easy decision. However this is not the end of Christmas in the city centre. "We’re already underway in thinking about how Christmas could be celebrated here in the future, and in the new year we will involve the city centre community in exploring what Christmas 2020 and beyond could look like."
Santa will go up for the final time on November 10 and will be taken down on January 10. "We want to provide Aucklanders with the opportunity to say goodbye to Santa. Christmas is a time for joy and celebration and we’re sure many of us have fond memories of him," Beck said. Memories and photos can be uploaded to heartofthecity.co.nz, emailed to farewellsanta@hotcity.co.nz or shared on Instagram and Facebook using #FarewellSanta. They'll then be published to a dedicated page on heartofthecity.co.nz/farewellsanta.
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Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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40.7% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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59.3% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Poll: Is Auckland’s economy improving?
The latest reporting from The Post suggests a wave of optimism for 2026. With interest rates finally heading south, businesses are feeling more positive. But for many on the ground, the real-world recovery feels a bit like a slow-moving commute on Auckland's motorways.
We want to know: Are you seeing signs of Auckland's economy improving in your industry or neighbourhood? Whether it's busier shops, new projects kicking off, or just a shift in the mood ...
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17.2% Yes
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66.9% No
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16% A little
Denim, but make it one-of-a-kind 💙
Not every pair of jeans makes it to the rack... but that doesn’t mean their story ends there. Our talented volunteer Annie has been transforming damaged denim into handcrafted bags, hats and aprons in our Onehunga SPCA Op Shop ✂️🧵
This latest batch even features her own hand-sewn designs, and customers have been loving them, they sell almost as soon as they hit the shelf!
It’s creativity, sustainability and community all stitched together, helping animals in need 🐾
📍 217 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga
🕘 9am–5pm, 7 days
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