The killing of big Maori surfer dude Tony Williams on the Gold Coast at Christmas three years ago barely makes sense.

St Nick dominated Auckland's Viaduct Basin last night.

Those giving fly swats or tea towels for Christmas this year may want to think again - they have been voted among the worst presents Kiwis have received.

Santa lands in Auckland today but if you want to see him, use public transport and arrive early.

Smoke alarms are not most people's idea of a Christmas present, but the Fire Service wants us to think about them anyway.

Edibles essential for a Kiwi Christmas have risen by up to $6 an item in the past decade, an informal Herald comparison has shown.

There have been near-disasters with Christmas floats crashing into buildings, rain wrecking the displays and a cat giving birth mid-parade - but the Farmers Santa Parade is still going strong and continues to annually draw a huge crowd.

Ever wondered how Father Christmas gets around the whole world in one night? Why no one sees him delivering presents? How he fits down the chimney? Or how the nose of Santa’s trusted navigator, Rudolph, came to glow? Professor Steve Pointing and Professor Allan Blackman explain some of the unanswered mysteries of Father Christmas’good work in this video. Courtesy AUT University/YouTube

Kiwi retailers are today hoping to cash in on "Black Friday", America's biggest shopping day of the year, by luring consumers with promises of big discounts on goods ahead of Christmas.

Although the events shown in the Sainsbury's Christmas ad are fictional, they tried to make the details as accurate as possible. Everything from the insignia on the men's uniform to the depth of the trenches is based on historical fact. In this short documentary Sainsbury's talk to the experts who advised, interviewed the grandson of a soldier who was there, and hear first-hand accounts from both sides. Footage: Sainsbury's/YouTube

An Auckland mother and retail worker wants to make sure no one misses out this Christmas.

The annual Christmas Party is the perfect opportunity to kick back and celebrate a great year with your colleagues over a drink or two ... or is it?

It seems you can't keep a creepy Santa down, writes Shelley Bridgeman. The gigantic Santa is set to grace (or should that be disgrace?) Auckland's Queen Street for yet another festive season.

First it was the great Lewis Road Creamery Whittaker's chocolate milk shortage of 2014; then it was reports that Creepy Santa was being consigned to oblivion.

Some call him creepy, others call him a piece of cultural history - either way Auckland's giant Santa has been saved from early retirement.

Santa has been saved, with a family-owned company pledging money to keep him on Auckland's main street.

A booming Christmas shopping period and an overall annual spending jump shows a return to pre-global financial crisis consumer confidence levels, retail experts say.

The week after New Year is a testing time for resolutions to correct a bad habit. But it is a good time to make one new one - tackle the 'obesity epidemic'.

The original Christian saint of secret gift-giving and children was St Nicholas, a fourth-century Greek bishop, whose feast day is December 6.

When TV chef Sachie Nomura arrived from Japan almost 17 years ago, she couldn't get over the size of NZ's vegetables.

In a show of holiday spirit, Greymouth residents have rallied to help a boy who lost his Christmas money when he went to spend it on Boxing Day.

Christmas is especially tough for Evans Mott. His wife Rosie shared a final Christmas Day with family before ending her life two years ago today.

Yesterday's manic Boxing Day sales were the busiest ever, according to new Paymark figures.

A shopping trolley of 15 items was $1,500 cheaper on Boxing Day - a saving of 26 per cent on Christmas prices - according to a Herald survey of a popular mall.