Santa in New Zealand: when presents come and how to write to him

When presents are opened

Santa visits in the night of Thursday 24 December and presents are opened on Christmas morning, Friday 25 December 2026. As in Britain and Australia, the day then runs through family lunch or dinner, and the following day is Boxing Day.

The date and the order are shared across the English-speaking countries. What differs is the season, because December is early summer here, and the long school holidays begin around the same time.

Writing to Santa with NZ Post

NZ Post has not announced its 2026 Santa letters programme. In 2023 handwritten letters went to Santa Claus, c/o Santa's Workshop, North Pole 0001, with the child's name and address on the back and no stamp. Santa replied in English or, by choice, in te reo Maori.

The 2023 cut-offs were 27 November for handwritten letters and before 21 December for letters sent online. Treat all of this as last season's until NZ Post publishes the new rules.

Boxing Day on a Saturday

Christmas Day is Friday 25 December and Boxing Day is Saturday 26 December 2026. New Zealand Mondayises the holiday, so the day off is Monday 28 December. Employment New Zealand lists Boxing Day as 26 December with 28 December as the observed date, and employees cannot claim both days.

Boxing Day sales run on as Boxing Week, as they do in Britain and Australia.

The season at a glance

Advent Sundays fall on 29 November and 6, 13 and 20 December 2026. The key days are Thursday 24 December, Friday 25 December and Monday 28 December. The letter generator below prints a blank letter and makes a reply from Santa with your child's name.

Advent and public holidays 2026/27 in New Zealand

The dates a family in New Zealand plans around, with weekdays.

Sun 29 Nov, 6, 13, 20 Dec

The four Advent Sundays.

Thu 24 Dec

Christmas Eve. Santa's night.

Fri 25 Dec

Christmas Day, public holiday. Presents in the morning.

Sat 26 Dec

Boxing Day.

Mon 28 Dec

Boxing Day observed (Mondayised).

Employment New Zealand advises checking the exact observed date with your local council. Read 28 October 2026.

Employment New Zealand: public holidays and anniversary dates

Booking a visit

Santa Claus

$280 – $462 · ~60 min

24 December

Another midsummer Christmas, served by a handful of dedicated Auckland businesses that also work malls and company events.

An Auckland operator scales by the hour: $280 for one, $400 for an hour and a half, $450 for two, then $200 per extra hour, with travel on top.

Peak demand runs 27 November to 26 December, with Friday evenings and weekends first. Video-message orders close on 15 December.

Real Santa NZ — pricing · GigHeaven — Santa, Hamilton

Letter to Santa

Print a blank letter for your child to write, or make a reply from Santa with your child's name: free, no sign-up, all in your browser.