After a long night getting through the naughty and nice list, Santa decided to catch some waves in Mount Maunganui today.
It has been a tradition every Christmas for the last eight years: wake up, put on the unmistakable red and white coat and hat, and hit the beach.
Mount Maunganui's Rob Warner said getting in the water was a great way to start the day.
It also got him a lot of "Merry Christmas, Santa" greetings from the kids as well as thumbs up from other beach-goers.
![Mount Maunganui's Rob Warner out for a Christmas surf. Photo / George Novak](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/J3RTLAMEM2WH5OMDGBNRSR66VY.jpg?auth=161ea73d8daa5d53a9782341674dbce3f86e4e79de0d755d7793a9dcb54391eb&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)