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Seven storey tree lights up Auckland's Western Park

Monday 30 November 2009, 12:13PM

By Telecom New Zealand

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Telecom Tree lights up Auckland's Western Park on Saturday night.
Telecom Tree lights up Auckland's Western Park on Saturday night. Credit: Telecom

AUCKLAND

Hundreds of children helped ignite 37,000 lights on the 7-storey high Telecom Tree in Western Park on Saturday night (28 November).

Four special phone boxes at the base of the Telecom Tree were red-hot with calls to the North Pole as children sent their Christmas wishes to Santa. The kids were delighted to see their voices activate lights running from the phone boxes to the new eight point star at the top of the Tree.

The Telecom Tree will be lit by special light shows every night from 6pm to midnight until 26 December.

Visitors to the Tree are also encouraged to bring with them any unwanted mobile phones so they can be gifted to Starship's mobile phone recycling appeal.

For the first time a Telecom Tree will also light up Frank Kitts Park in Wellington every evening from 1 December until Boxing Day.

For those who can’t make it to either of the Telecom Trees, Santa Line will still take Christmas wishes direct to Santa. Hopeful children (and adults!) can call Santa on 0800 222 222 or write to him online at santaline.co.nz.

Last year almost one million calls (999,672) were made to Santa Line.

Visit telecomtree.co.nz for upcoming events at the Trees, and more information.

Where: Western Park, Ponsonby Road
When: From 28 November to 26 December with lightshows from 6pm till midnight every day.


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Further facts about the Telecom Tree:
· The Telecom Tree’s height is equivalent to a seven storey building.
· The lights have over 16 million colour combinations.
· The Telecom Tree lights are linked with 156 wires and 20,000 cable ties.
· The anchors at the base of the Auckland Tree weigh two tonne each.
· The Telecom Tree takes seven days to build and requires an 80 metre
crane and a team of 15 people.
· The Telecom Tree was designed by Joe Bleakley, the Art Director from
King Kong and Lord of the Rings.

Facts about Santa Line:
· Santa Line has been connecting Kiwi kids with Santa for 16 years.
· Every year, hundreds of thousands of Kiwi kids make calls to Santa to
ensure he receives their wish list. Last year a record 999,672 calls
were made.