Christmas in New Zealand is less about snow and sleigh bells and more about sun, sand and barbecues in the backyard. During December we delve into the Kiwi Christmas experience –
from Abel Tasman’s first New Zealand Christmas in 1642 to the declining
reign of the Queen’s message in our living rooms.
Before e-games, people played all sorts of games around Christmas time.
Some of these games, such as the ‘Light the cigarette race’ and 'the slave market', haven’t stood the test of time very well.
Come late December and thousands of Kiwis get ready for their annual
holiday. They look forward to lazy days at the beach or the bach (or
crib), games of backyard cricket, food on the barbie and the holiday
uniform of shorts, jandals and T-shirts.
Santa Claus made his commercial debut in New Zealand in 1894 when he took his place, complete with tree and toys, among the furniture in the Wellington DIC store on Lambton Quay.
At Oihi Beach in the Far North, Marsden preached in English to a largely Maori gathering, launching the Christian missionary phase of New Zealand history.
