New look Farmers Santa unveiled on Whitcoulls corner

Auckland has its new look Farmers Santa on the Whitcoulls corner.



The city’s iconic Father Christmas - who graces the country’s busiest intersection in Queen Street - has been unveiled following a six month ‘hospitalisation’.



Gone are the creaky beckoning finger and wobbly winking eye, replaced by a more cheery disposition that better reflects the festive nature of the big fella’s calling.



Santa’s surgery has been made possible by funding from Heart of the City and Auckland City Council together with generous support from Farmers and Whitcoulls.



Previously a solo Santa, he has also been joined by a couple of faithful friends. The display on the Whitcoulls Building on the corner of Victoria and Queen Streets now includes two of Santa’s reindeer.



The reindeer are modelled on the originals that went up on the Farmers Hobson St building in 1960.



The new look display wraps around the corner of the building and also includes an array of larger-than-life festively-wrapped Christmas gifts. The Farmers Santa on Whitcoulls corner was unveiled on November 22 by Auckland aerial dance artists Eve Gordon and Beth Kayes in a show featuring music and entertainment.



Heart of the City CEO Alex Swney says the ‘plastic surgery’ project proved a mammoth effort.



“Santa is not exactly a spring chicken – he first graced the Farmers building in Hobson Street in 1960. He was probably one of the first major fibreglass structures to be made in the country and over the years he has undergone various ‘operations’ to keep him looking spic and span.”



Mr Swney says Aucklanders were asked last year if they wanted Santa to return for 2009 and they voted overwhelmingly in favour.



“But we have also taken on board some suggestions and comments from various parties. He’s a much more jovial character that better fits the Christmas theme. So, thanks to the generosity of Farmers, Whitcoulls, Heart of the City and Auckland City Council, Santa is back.”



Farmers head of marketing Dean Cook says the company is delighted to again be a partner in bringing to town the iconic symbol of the festive season.



“Farmers is 100 years old this year and Santa made his debut on our big Hobson Street store 49 years ago. Couple that with our instigation of the Farmers Santa Parade in 1934 and we think they’re a couple of great reasons to help Father Christmas make his comeback.



Santa’s surgeons were the Bootleg Design team who say around 4,000 man-hours have gone in to the restoration of his face together with the new additions.



“We’ve had a team of six working on this project for around 16 weeks. It’s a huge operation when the patient is almost 20 metres high and you need to construct two 14.5 metre reindeer from scratch,” says Bootleg’s Carl Moody.



“The reindeer have to be extremely durable and break down into transportable pieces, but most important, they need to be lightweight to minimise fixings on the building. There have been some significant engineering issues in terms of how the reindeer and presents are fixed to the site.



“This project wouldn’t have been possible without the involvement of a large team of engineers and model makers working well together,” Mr Moody says.



Whitcoulls’ Peter Kalan says the company is thrilled with Santa’s return.



“This was a great project to be part of. Santa’s been part of Christmas in Auckland for years, and it was fantastic to pitch in and give him a bit of a facelift for this season.



“And of course we’re pleased he’s camping on Whitcoulls doorstep yet again this season,” Mr Kalan says.



So to those who may have wondered where Auckland’s traditional Christmas is, the answer is definitely back in the city.