26 November 2012
HAVE A CHAT WITH SANTA
Kids get ready with your wish lists, the Telecom Santa line is back
For the 19th year in a row, Telecom is making it easy for kids in New Zealand to talk to Santa, all the way in the North
Pole, with the Telecom Santa line. Anyone can call Santa for free, on 0800 222 222, from now until Christmas to let him
know what’s on their wish list.
Telecom Chief Marketing Officer, Jason Paris, says it’s great to be able to spread some Christmas cheer and connect kids
with Santa before he sets off in his sleigh on Christmas Eve.
“Santa has told us that he’s looking forward to hearing what Kiwi kids would like for Christmas!
“In 2011 there were lots of popular requests like Playstations, dolls, mobile phones, iPods and trampolines, with some
punters even asking for an engagement ring, an Airbus A380 and a baby! We’ve heard the elves are already laying bets on
what the kids will be asking for this year…” says Paris.
Kids (or adults) wanting to chat to Santa can call him for free from any New Zealand landline, mobile or pay phone
around the country. There will also be dedicated booths set up at the Telecom Christmas Trees in Auckland, Wellington
and Christchurch. For anyone who would rather send him their wish online, Santa’s elves will be collecting wishes from 1
December on www.telecomsantaline.co.nz.
For more information take a look at http://www.telecomtree.co.nz/.
Breakdown of calls per location from 1-31 December 2011
RegionNumber of callers Auckland81,413Wellington38,283Christchurch35,290Bay of Plenty19,373Waikato17,519Hawkes Bay15,239Northland10,142Otago9,968Manawatu8,945Taranaki8,189Nelson7,684Southland6,387Canterbury4,892Wanganui4,580Central North Island3,896Westland3,031Wairarapa2,541
Other facts about the Telecom Santaline
Last Christmas:
• 495,016 people called the Santaline in total
• There were on average 11,786 calls per day
• On Christmas Eve, 26,387 people dialled up Santa
• The longest call to the Santaline was 20 minutes and 46 seconds
• Most calls were made to the Santaline between 7 and 8 pm
About ‘Summer’s for Sharing’
This summer season, Telecom is encouraging New Zealanders to stay connected with each other by sharing their summer
memories wherever they may be across the country. The Telecom Christmas trees will be appearing in Auckland, Wellington
and Christchurch and is open free of charge for the public to visit and participate in daily light shows from the 1st of
December in Auckland, 7th of December in Wellington and 8th of December in Christchurch through until Christmas. Our
free 0800 222 222 Santa Line service will ensure Kiwi kids’ messages are delivered directly to the North Pole while free
Telecom Wifi installed at popular holiday hotspots will enable people to post those essential social media updates for
family and friends. Free Wifi will also allow busy Kiwis to catch-up on work emails from the beach or squeeze in an
extra day-or-two out of their annual beachside break.
ENDS