KEY POINTS:
Ho ho ho could have turned into the heave-ho if not for the passionate support of Aucklanders rallying to save a Christmas icon.
CBD lobby group Heart of the City this week asked Aucklanders to tell it if Santa should return to his spot on the Whitcoulls building on the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets in 2009.
Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney said while the 25m tall Santa had been loved by many generations he may no longer be appropriate.
But Aucklanders disagreed.
"The reaction has been amazing, people have a strong emotional attachment to the old fella, and he'll be coming back for sure," he said.
"The feedback has confirmed what I always suspected - that the Santa is a valuable and treasured part of Auckland.
"People feel really passionately about the big guy."
Mr Swney said more than a dozen polls show strong support of the Santa and feedback had come from as far as London.
"It has been overwhelming."
Heart of the City opened the debate after inheriting the Santa and footing the $55,000 installation and maintenance bill.
- NZPA
