KEY POINTS:
Grinch-like neighbours are being blamed for bringing the famed Whitcoulls Santa to a grinding halt.
The finger-waving, winking St Nicholas that lords it over Queen St shoppers each festive season has been frozen in action several times since he got on to his perch this year.
And while urban myth would have it that Whitcoulls has bowed to a politically correct desire to prevent Santa scaring children, the bookshop says the truth is a different story altogether.
Whitcoulls operations manager Nicki Thompson blamed apartment dwellers in the historic building who had become frustrated by the squeaking and grinding of Santa's ageing parts.
She told the Herald it had become a regular occurrence for someone to climb up behind Santa and switch the motors off.
The mechanisms that drive the finger and eyelid are on timers and operate only between 8am and 6pm.
But Ms Thompson said the noise could be irritating - and it took time before an employee in the building realised Father Christmas had stalled on the balcony, and the mechanisms were switched back on.
Those living in the building who spoke to the Herald last night were shocked to be fingered for the crime.
Ebony Hallam said residents she knew liked having Santa there.
"For someone to do this [turn off the power] is actually quite hurtful."
Another man described it as "a bit disturbing" that someone was unplugging Santa.
The figure of Santa was put up on November 11, in time for the Farmers Parade on November 25. It is due to come down on January 7.
