Prime Minister weighs in on early Christmas celebrations

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confessed her love for all things Christmas. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The yearly debate on whether November is too early for Christmas carols has been pitched to the Prime Minister during a lunchtime talkback show.

The Country, heralded as New Zealand's flagship rural radio show and fronted by Andy Thompson who stood in this week for farmer Jamie Mackay, pitched the question to Jacinda Ardern following a talk about Robert Mugabe's resignation and recent TPP free trade agreements.

Thompson said the "big question" for the new Prime Minister came from "a need of a prime ministerial ruling on this because it is a big argument that I have very regularly with people".

"Is November too early to put up a Christmas tree and play Christmas music?" he asked.

"Because I have a very strong opinion on this."

Ardern said she has "no objection" to the early arrival of Christmas decorations and music. Photo / Dean Purcell

Ardern began her answer warily, saying: "I can tell I am going to lose you on this one", before confessing her love for all things Christmas.

"I absolutely love Christmas," she said behind chuckles of laughter from Thompson.

"There are very few things about Christmas that I don't love.

"The commercial side of it less so, for me it is all about getting family together and the arrival of summer and just the good mood people are usually in, so if people bring that on a little bit earlier I have no objection to that."

However, the country's leader doesn't have the same admiration for the early arrival of Easter celebrations.

"If I start seeing that arrive early in the supermarket that really gets my back up so I understand your position," she said.

The conversation ended with Thompson joking about the addition of Halloween before ending his first-ever interview with Ardern.

The question comes in light of many stores across the country beginning to dust of their Christmas decorations and thaw out the Michael Buble soundtracks, a time of year that divides the nation's grinches from true Christmas enthusiasts.