Cruising the skies in a flying boat was reserved for the wealthy and glamorous back in the 1950s.

If you're not sure what to get Dad this Christmas, Andrew Alderson has a few ideas of the literary kind.

The Sallies are absolutely right to request that donations be pristine and new because there are some people in our community who are truly evil, Kerre writes.

Auckland Airport is giving away $120,000 to Kiwi charities as part of its 12 Days of Christmas initiative.

Massey University experts have released their 12 days of Christmas summer survival tips to help everyone stay sane, healthy and alive this festive season.

At the end of the month it's Christmas, and I think the majority of New Zealanders will be spending it at their holiday home in Maui, writes Steve Braunias.

Christmas; a season for long-simmering family resentments and bloody infuriating struggles to get those pine needles out of your car boot.

Shelley Bridgeman reckons your Christmas newsletter is the junk mail of the festive season.

The new John Lewis (UK department store) Christmas TV advert with The Man on The Moon. This is the story of a young girl called Lily. Looking at the moon through the family telescope one night, she's amazed at what she finds... a man on the moon. Lily watches as he goes about his chores, all alone up there. She becomes determined to get something to the moon, to send him a message and show him that someone down here is thinking of him. Source: John Lewis/YouTube

Can there be goodwill toward Islam? I believe there can be goodwill, but this will require us to look beyond the likes of Isis and al-Qaeda, writes Zain Ali.

Consumer New Zealand has looked at some of the pre-made desserts on our supermarket shelves.

You can host a Christmas to savour without leaving the comfort of your home with our ultimate online shopping guide for the festive season.

COMMENT: When Kerre McIvor heard woman in Britain decided to refuse breast cancer treatment for fear it would make her fat, it left her feeling sad.

An Auckland church has partnered with a host of sponsors to pack 10,000 food hampers for people in need this Christmas.

COMMENT: Do your children dream of receiving water balloons and unicorns for Christmas? Get real, Diana Clement writes.

Unless you're looking to one-up the Grinch, do not give these gifts for Christmas.

Hundreds of Santas decked out in shorts and running shoes made for a fun night out as they ran through the streets of Auckland.

The organiser of a Christmas Wonderland event says she's "devastated" after some disappointed parents claimed they wasted their time at the event on Sunday.

Salvation Army volunteers are bracing themselves for a bumper Christmas - of assistance to families facing a struggle to keep afloat through the season of goodwill.

From 3 to 83, the Farmers Santa Parade delighted everyone who turned out on a sunny day in Auckland.

Christmas Day is less than four weeks away and the busy silly season is kicking in.

Christmas has come early for sick kids at Starship as Maria Tutaia delivered a special supply of New World's "Little Christmas" collectibles.

Kerre writes about NZ's reaction to the story about banning Christmas.

BIG DEBATE: Dame Susan Devoy says she isn't the Grinch while Bishop Ross Bay warns of the dangers of expunging "Christmas" from migrants' vocabulary.

It's really about the community coming together. Farmers' founder Robert Laidlaw was a Christian man but he never made the parade religious.

A leading Auckland migrant settlement agency is avoiding the word Christmas and will instead be talking about "happy holidays" and "season's greetings".

Santa Claus is back in town above the newly revamped Farmers store on Queen St.