Santa's letterbox and phone running hot

Every way you look there's a kid sending a text message but when it comes to what they want for Christmas, it seems a phone call or a letter to Santa is the way to go.

New Zealand Post has its own Santa (Santa's Workshop, c/o The North Pole), and with a few days left until Christmas, more than 90,000 children have already written to him this year.

Telecom launched its Santa Line on December 1 and so far more than 520,000 calls have been made to the free number.

But despite the apparent appetite for technology and text messaging, a comparatively small 2000 text messages have been sent to Telecom's text Santa and 5000 messages via its website.

With text messages costing 20 cents each (all proceeds to Starship children's hospital), perhaps the kids just have an eye for the bargain freephone Santa.

New Zealand Post's virtual Santa has received just under 3000 emails.

Telecom also hooked up a special video link from Santa at the "North Pole" to Starship in Auckland on Monday.

"We're very pleased to have been able to bring Santa to the children and hopefully give them something to smile about at a time that must be especially hard for the kids and their families," Telecom spokesperson Sam Irvine said.

Santa's little helper at New Zealand Post, Lucy Jackson, said Santa had found some children began writing to him as far back as January.

The top 10 presents requested on Santa Line:

1.CD/DVD
2.Bike
3.Bratz Doll
4.PlayStation 2
5.Mobile phone
6. Barbie
7. iPod
8.Sports equipment
9.Computer
10. PlayStation Portable