Many New Zealanders will be spending another Christmas stuck overseas and away from friends and whanau, thanks to Covid-19. In a bid to spread some holiday cheer, the Otago Daily Times put the call out for expats to send a festive greeting back to loved ones in the South.
"Merry Christmas to our Otago whanau Nana Deb and Granddad Wayne Hollows, Great-grandma and Liz, Great-nana and Granddad John. We love and miss you all and hope we can see you in 2022. Love from Palmie, Emz, Brianna, Kaiah and Cash x."
From: Emma Hollows-Boyden, Kaiah Boyden, Cash Boyden, Brianna Boyden and Chris Boyden, Numurkah, Australia.
"Merry Christmas Grandma and Granddad, Uncle Nath and Aunty Kaela. We miss you lots and hope we’ll see you soon!"
From: Sebastian (above), Sandra and Joachim Brastein, Oslo, Norway.
"Merry Christmas Mum, Dad, Grandma and Jimmy! Have an awesome Kiwi Christmas eh. Can’t wait to see you all again!! Sending all my love and best wishes from Canada!! Love from Lizzy."
From: Elizabeth Milburn, Canada.
"Dear Nan and Poppy Brown, we miss you so much, hoping to see you next year. Lots of love, Syd and Eddie. Biggest hugs and kisses."
From: Jasmine Walder and family, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
"Merry Christmas to my family and friends in NZ. Love and hugs from wintry Vancouver."
From: Elisabeth (Liss) Withnall, Vancouver, Canada.
"To my handsome three sons who I don’t get to see for Christmas for the first time since I’ve been a mum 18 years ago — I love you with all my heart, will be there when I can, to ALL my family I love and miss you xx."
From: Melanie Cresswell, Mount Isa, Australia.
"Wishing my mum, nan, and all the Davis family in Alexandra an awesome Christmas!"
From: Cassie Millar (pictured centre, with friends Delaney Abbott and Sondra Yeates), Adelaide, Australia.
"Our family would like to wish my Mum and Dad (Barbara and Fraser) and sisters Alex and Fiona and Mitchells the biggest merry Christmas from Sydney. We miss you more than words can say and we look forward to the day we can give you a big hug as our strength. Love to you all and thank you for loving us. Love Liz, Andy, James and Christina x."
From: Elizabeth, Andrew, James and Christina Mitchell, Sydney, Australia.
"Wishing all my friends and family in Glenorchy a very Merry Christmas, especially my dad Gilly and brother Adam. Sending huge cuddles and kisses to my nephews and niece CJ, Adasyn and Leo. Love Aunty Becky."
From: Rebecca Klimeck, Sydney, Australia
"Our family would like to wish my Mum and Dad (Barbara and Fraser) and sisters Alex and Fiona and Mitchells the biggest merry Christmas from Sydney. We miss you more than words can say and we look forward to the day we can give you a big hug as our strength. Love to you all and thank you for loving us. Love Liz, Andy, James and Christina x."
From: Elizabeth, Andrew, James and Christina Mitchell, Sydney, Australia.
"Penny and Hannah Landersjo Rae send Christmas greetings to their family in New Zealand. We love you Grandma, Granddad and Aunty Megan (Bannockburn & Cromwell)."
From: Penny and Hannah Landersjo Rae, Sweden.
