Trail newbie is no novice

Noel Hall of Papamoa is a first-timer in the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Light Trail.

They may have only been in Papamoa for six months, but Noel and Faye Hall are about to light the place up.

From Wellington, the couple used to live in a prominent two-storey house - and each Christmas would install a board with an illuminated nativity scene on the apex of the gable.

"Across from us was quite a large intersection so at the give way it was directly in front of you. "It was quite amusing to see cars stopped at the give way as people looked at it," says Noel.

Noel had initially made a board with a nativity scene for his church.

"What you can buy in the shops is always to do with Santa and sleighs and reindeer and that sort of thing. My aim was to do something to recognise the origins of Christmas.

"I liked it so much that I decided to build this one (for his house). I've added a few eye catching things over the years like a spider and a comet going across the sky, but the basic thing has always relating to where Christmas came from."

Noel has used LED lights but has had to source them from overseas because of the limited colour range available in New Zealand.

It turned out the quality of those he got form Hong Kong wasn't great, and now orders light strings from China. "It was out in the elements for six weeks and they started rusting and failing - the ones from China have better quality copper-based wiring and are
sealed."

Noel's board at his home in Papamoa is one of a kind.

"Since I made the board I have looked on line to see if anything similar was available to buy, but I've not found anything.

Another of his illuminated boards is to be put up at Evans Rd Community Church and both are part of the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Light Trail.

"Christmas is a time of joy and happiness. If I can create a smile on people's faces, my job has been worth it."

Follow the trail by downloading a copy of the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Light Trail.