One Rotorua family was looking forward to relaxing this Christmas after making it to the end of a tumultuous year.
Karen and Adam Jeffries were thrust into the limelight earlier this year after advocating for the legalisation of cannabis oil in New Zealand so they could use it to to medicate their sick daughter.
"2014 has been a real rollercoaster for the family because Zoe has had so many ups and downs since starting school," Ms Jeffries said.
When Zoe was born, her brain was deprived of oxygen and she was diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder.
When she was put in the Special Care Baby Unit she started seizing and doctors diagnosed her with refractory seizure disorder.