Whanganui shoppers set and ready for Christmas

Trafalgar Square shopping centre was busy but shoppers were serene as they made Christmas purchases.

"I always like to get my shopping done early and manage to stick quite closely to my budget," said Allyson Tuffin.

"I have bought presents for grandchildren and we are doing Secret Santa for the adults."

Mrs Tuffin said unicorn toys seem to be a popular gift for children this year.

"I tend to buy them bigger presents on their birthdays and keep it smaller at Christmas," she said.

Maria Martin said she still had a bit of shopping to do but has a list she will stick to.

"I'm not likely to go over my budget and I've worked out what I need to spend," she said.

Melbourne visitor and mum of six Rowena Vaastra was shopping with her youngest son, 2-year-old Dominic.

"I probably will blow the budget because always do," she said.

"Although I plan not to it's hard with so many children to buy for.

"I buy according to their interests - my older boys are very sporty and my girls are in to dance."

Mrs Vaastra said the children's presents were sorted, however, and she was shopping for some New Zealand wines to add to gift hampers for Australian friends.

Retired Whanganui School principal Henry Ngapo said he was shopping at Trafalgar Square on Wednesday night and had come to the mall to get some gifts wrapped.

"I was here last night getting a bag of presents wrapped but I missed these two smaller ones at the bottom so I've come back to get them done today."

Mr Ngapo said he wanted to support the gift wrapping kiosk because they were raising money for Special Olympics.

"It's a great cause so I thought I would give them another donation."

Mr Ngapo was also celebrating his recent win in the garden category of the Whanganui Light Up Your Home competition for his sparkling home in Caffray Ave.

The mall Santa said he was also well on top of his Christmas shopping.

"I always get it done early because I know I'm going to be here," he said.

"A lot of children have been asking for the new race track toys this year.

"The ones with lights on them.

"Others have said they want iPads and I tell them that I will get the elves on to it but I don't make any promises."

Gift shop Kakahu Taonga Aotearoa have set up a separate, pop-up shop for Christmas in the vacant site next to Trafalgar Lotto.

"There's more room for people to browse in here and people have been buying lots of the glassware," said proprietor Lisa Pirere.

"I can't show you the most popular piece because they have all sold out."

One person at the mall who had no interest in shopping was 2-year-old Maddison Shailer.

She was just there to meet Santa and quietly tell him what she would like for Christmas.