The Star reporter Sam Henderson caught up with the big man in between meeting children at his grotto.
Q: You have been visiting Dunedin for many years. What stands out about this trip?
A: There is a gentleness about this city that I always notice. When I look out from the sleigh and see lights sprinkled across the hills and along the harbour, it feels like the whole place is giving me a wink.
Q: Times are tight for many families. What are children telling you this year?
A: I hear a lot about people being careful with money, but I also hear about friends and family sharing time together, from cousins sleeping over to families making decorations together. Quite a few children are asking me to help someone else before them. That tells me hearts here are still very big.
Q: How is the nice list looking for Ōtepoti Dunedin?
A: There have been a few grumbles about chores, of course, but many are being kind to pets without being asked, helping younger siblings and including others in games.
When someone has had a rough patch and then tries hard to do better, that shines brighter than almost anything.
Q: When you take a break from the grotto, where do you like to explore?
A: I enjoy a walk along the beautiful nearby beaches.
On quieter evenings I like to wander through the Dunedin Botanic Garden or travel through the sky admiring the many beautiful light displays across the city.
Some of those front yards are so colourful you could guide the sleigh without Rudolph.
Q: What is your wish for the city this Christmas?
A: I would like people to enjoy a little breathing space and appreciate the small joys of life. It might be a quiet cuppa, a joke around the table or a conversation with someone far away. Presents are fun, but the memories that last the longest are often simple, shared moments.
Q: Do you have a special message for our readers?
A: Thank you for looking after one another. Be gentle with yourselves and others.
Even the smallest gesture of kindness can feel amazing for the person who receives it.
If you hear bells over Otago on Christmas Eve, give a wave.
I will be watching.
