Christmas is arriving in Christchurch

Christchurch’s first seven-storey high Telecom Christmas Tree will come to life in North Hagley Park from Sunday 11 December.

The Telecom Christmas Tree, which is also in Auckland and Wellington, attracts more than 150,000 visitors each year and is made up of 375,000 twinkling lights.

Five thousand members of the public will be part of a special lighting ceremony from 8pm Friday 9 December. Details of how to win a ticket to the free event can be heard on Classic Hits 97.7.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says he is thrilled that a Telecom Christmas Tree will light up the city for the first time this year.

“Christmas is a special time to come together with friends, family and community. People in Christchurch are no doubt ready for some Christmas cheer to lift their spirits – and the giant tree in Hagley Park will do just that.

“We appreciate Telecom’s generous gift and I look forward to visiting the tree and seeing others enjoying the light displays.”

In the spirit of Christmas, people are encouraged to bring a gift to the tree to go to children in need, and a proportion of the gifts collected in Auckland and Wellington will be given to Christchurch children who have had it rough recently.

Santa will be on call too, with the much-loved tradition of Telecom’s Santaline to capture Cantabrian kids’ wish lists for 2011. Telephone boxes to ring the North Pole will be set up at the tree and the national 0800 222 222 number is open now.

People can also go to www.telecomtree.co.nz to design a light sequence and an email response will tell them what time their display will be played live on the tree so they can be there to watch it.

This year’s Carols by Candlelight event, which forms part of the Garden City SummerTimes festival, will be held next to the giant tree in North Hagley Park on Christmas Eve.

Christchurch’s tree will play host to a spectacular lightshow from dusk until dawn, daily until Boxing Day when the pack down will start. The tree will be gone before the big New Year’s Eve event in North Hagley Park on 31 December.