New Zealand's Christmas Bethlehem baby

Tuki Kaokao (left) and Vanity Tuaineiti with baby Kiara Kaokao, who was born yesterday morning. Photo / Alan Gibson

Tauranga meets first baby in world to be born in town with biblical name this Christmas.

The first baby born in Bethlehem on Christmas Day was not a boy in a manger but a little girl in the Bay of Plenty, who received gifts of hooded towels, rattle toys and clothing.

Kiara Kaokao was born at Bethlehem Birthing Centre, Tauranga, weighing seven pounds 11 ounces (3.48kg) at 12.38am yesterday.

While there are several places around the globe called Bethlehem - including more than 20 towns in the United States - Bethlehem, Tauranga, was the first in the world to see Christmas Day.

Kiara's mum, Vanity Tuaineiti, said it was nice knowing her little girl was among the first children to be born on Christmas Day anywhere in the world but made even more special that her birth happened in Bethlehem.

She said there was no temptation to name her after a religious prophet born two millenniums ago.

"Baby Jesus? No. I was just happy for her to be born safely. It was really good and I was happy she was born on Christmas Day.

"I feel really special, and the people at the birthing centre and the midwives were really good as well."

Asked how her daughter would feel in the future given her birthday fell on Christmas, Ms Tuaineiti said she hadn't thought about that yet.

"It will probably be just one thing in one go, you know; she could get her birthday present and Christmas present all in one go.

"Maybe we could do something for her the week before with a cake or something, I don't know."

Ms Tuaineiti returned home with her partner and daughter yesterday to gifts of towels, toys and jumpsuits for Kiara.

She said Christmas had been low-key, with sleep top of her wish list.

Bethlehem Birthing Centre founders Chloe Wright and Nicky Campbell said earlier bookings indicated a baby would be born on Christmas Day.

Mrs Wright said babies came when they were ready and not to a schedule but staff at the centre were excited at the likelihood of a Christmas baby.

"To have a baby born in Bethlehem at Christmas is really something special," she said.

The primary birthing centre, which is privately owned but publicly funded, was opened for births last month after the official opening by Prime Minister John Key in October.

The facility is a new concept in Tauranga and is for women having natural, non-complicated births.