NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Single mum says she'll spend over $3800 on Christmas gifts

By Vanessa Brown
news.com.au·
14 Dec, 2017 02:41 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Last year's load. Photo / Emma Tapping Facebook

Last year's load. Photo / Emma Tapping Facebook

Many will remember mum-of-three Emma Tapping, who caused a media storm last year after posting a photo of her Christmas tree swamped by a tower of presents.

Well now, the single mum is back at it — revealing she will be spending more than $3830 on hundreds of presents for her young children.

In 2015, Ms Tapping forked out $2845 on her two daughters and son, with critics blasting her for spoiling the kids "rotten". She was even accused of abusing her children after the social media snap went viral.

Emma Tapping has been slammed in previous years for her excessive Christmas presents. Photo / Facebook
Emma Tapping has been slammed in previous years for her excessive Christmas presents. Photo / Facebook

But this year, she is hitting back by spending even more on Mia, 15, Ella, 11, and three-year-old Tatun — getting them more than 300 presents for Christmas.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Appearing on ITV's This Morning on Wednesday in the UK, Emma defended the amount of presents she buys her children, saying: "I work hard for my money."

"I start in January, shop all the way through the year, and that's the pile at the end of the year," she said, pointing back at her Christmas tree.

"I wouldn't change it for the world."

Speaking via video-link from her Isle of Man home, Ms Tapping said she'd been abused online for her yearly splurge on her children.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Last year's load. Photo / Emma Tapping
Last year's load. Photo / Emma Tapping

"I work hard for my money, I work all year round for my money and why would I be slugging my guts out all year if I can't treat my kids at Christmas?"

Emma's comments on the program left viewers annoyed, branding the mother as "ridiculous".

"I would love to know were on earth do you store all that stuff it's absolutely ridiculous," one said.

"We all want to spoil our kids at Christmas . but that is just flipping ridiculous!!," another added.

Discover more

Lifestyle

Mum buys kids 96 gifts each for Xmas

14 Dec 02:00 AM
World

Christmas comes early for homeless man

13 Dec 08:52 PM
Lifestyle

Nana's kinky Christmas gaffe goes viral

13 Dec 09:32 PM

Can you have too many presents? Here's one mum who doesn't think so... pic.twitter.com/HACh2Uz2mC

— This Morning (@thismorning) December 13, 2017

This is obscene. While other children go hungry and people are homeless, why not donate?

— Linda Boland (@LalaBean1) December 13, 2017

Ms Tapping said she isn't able to keep track of everything she spends on Christmas — but believes it to be around $3800.

"Because I start shopping in January I don't keep a tally on how much I spent, but I think it must be about £2,000," she said in a separate interview.

"I don't spoil them throughout the year.

In 2015, their ree had 87 gifts each for her three children under the tree. Photo / Emma Tapping
In 2015, their ree had 87 gifts each for her three children under the tree. Photo / Emma Tapping

"If they want something they have to do chores and buy it themselves. If they break their phones for example, they don't just get a new one from me.

"They get stuff they need but they don't get spoiled."

Earlier this month, Ms Tapping said she would be keeping her Christmas tree off social media this season in a bid to avoid trolls and negative comments.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I am doing what I said and not putting any pictures of my Christmas tree on social media," she wrote on Facebook on December 4.

Emma said she won't be putting photos of her tree on social media. Photo / Facebook
Emma said she won't be putting photos of her tree on social media. Photo / Facebook

"However my agent has got me a great deal with a TV program, so should pictures begin to circulate I'm doing what I should have done last year and removing myself from Facebook til after Christmas.

"The first year I took it all on the chin (or several in my case) the second I fought back. I'm not getting into petty arguments. I will do the work I need to do and spend my Christmas with those I love. I respect you may have an opinion about what I do. In turn Please respect that I don't need to hear or read it.

"I'm a Mum that tries her best for her kids and that will always be the case. If you feel the need to blast that or rip into me and my family please hit the unfriend button."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

South Australia bans soy milk, rice cake ads in junk food crackdown

01 Jul 07:44 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

I teach people to sleep for a living - here’s how I ensure I always rest well

01 Jul 06:00 AM
Lifestyle

Iconic Kiwi lolly Jaffa comes to end, quietly discontinued by manufacturer

01 Jul 04:49 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

South Australia bans soy milk, rice cake ads in junk food crackdown

South Australia bans soy milk, rice cake ads in junk food crackdown

01 Jul 07:44 AM

Critics say the policy sends a confusing message about nutritious foods.

Premium
I teach people to sleep for a living - here’s how I ensure I always rest well

I teach people to sleep for a living - here’s how I ensure I always rest well

01 Jul 06:00 AM
Iconic Kiwi lolly Jaffa comes to end, quietly discontinued by manufacturer

Iconic Kiwi lolly Jaffa comes to end, quietly discontinued by manufacturer

01 Jul 04:49 AM
Atlantic diet: The healthy meal plan taking on the Mediterranean diet

Atlantic diet: The healthy meal plan taking on the Mediterranean diet

01 Jul 12:04 AM
Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno
sponsored

Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP