When it comes to letting Santa know what they want for Christmas, it seems more and more children are ringing, rather than writing.
Telecom spokes-elf Rebecca Earl said “we've just had such an influx of calls this year, it's really been quite special.
“Santa has received almost 700,000 calls since phone lines opened at the start of December. Almost 13,000 of those were made from thespecial Santa lines in Auckland’s Victoria Park.”
As for the old-fashioned letter - Santa still got 100,000 this year, but six times as many children phoned him.
And what are they asking for? Well, one boy wrote to Santa asking for another brother because he didn't like the one he has.
Bikes and iPods top the list this year for both boys and girls. But while action figures and Lego make the boy's top five, girls want to talk, wishing for cell phones, just ahead of Barbie and Bratz.
Santa Claus at the Lynn Mall shopping centre said “there is a lot of new stuff - electronic games are very very popular - nintendo and play station and such like as that, but I’m surprised how much of the old perennials are still there with it.”
And it seems it's not just children sending their wish lists to Santa.
Earl said “also, we have a lot of kind of older children email - people wanting a partner for Christmas.”
For those - both young and old - yet to make their requests, it is too late to write to Santa, but he will be checking his phone line until Christmas Eve.
3 News