Santa’s hotline lights up Xmas tree

Telecom’s seven-storey high Christmas tree was lit up by the sound of children’s wishes at its unveiling in Auckland on Saturday.

Four special phone boxes at the base of the Telecom tree were used by children to make calls to children, a media release says.

“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.”

There will be a Telecom tree at Western Park in Auckland and at Franz Kitts Park in Wellington from 1 December until Boxing Day, with a different light show every evening. The lights have over 16 million colour combinations and the tree was designed by Joe Bleakley, the art director from King Kong and Lord of the Rings.

Visitors are encouraged to leave any unwanted mobile phones at the base of the tree so they can be gifted to Starship Hospital’s mobile phone recycling appeal.

For those who can’t visit the trees, the Santa Line is 0800 222 222 or online at santaline.co.nz.

Last year 999,672 calls were made to the Santa Line.