Christmas in the Park in Christchurch to go ahead

The Coca-Cola Christmas In The Park in Christchurch will go ahead this year, after initial fears it would be cancelled following this week's 7.8 mag earthquake. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Santa Claus is indeed coming to town - in Christchurch - after initial fears the 7.8 magnitude quake may have cancelled this year's Christmas in the Park concert.

Seventeen containers - packed with staging equipment, lighting, scaffolding and a 22m Christmas tree - was due to leave Auckland for Christchurch by rail last Monday.

Plans were put on hold following last Monday'squake and the Christchurch concert was at risk this year.

However, one of Coca-Cola's long-term partners, Mainfreight, came up with an alternative route to get the containers to Christchurch and back to Auckland in time for its own Christmas in the Park event, on December 10.

Mainfreight spokesman Grant Smith said they had been moving the concert for more than 16 years and were determined to ensure the Christchurch show went ahead this year.

Coco-Coca Amatil NZ spokesman Chris Litchfield said they were grateful to those who had helped to ensure the event would still happen.

"Coco-Cola Christmas In The Park is a huge collaborative effort and its partners like Mainfreight - whose quick-thinking, responsiveness and commitment to the New Zealand community - keep our show on the road year after year.''