5 Million Kiwi Calls Made To Santa in 20-Year History
Telecom New Zealand is celebrating 20 years of providing a direct line between Kiwi kids and the North Pole, with
Santaline once again opening for business in 2013.
Over the past two decades more than 5 million kids have called Santa to deliver their Christmas wishes. With lines now
open, kids across the country can carry on the Christmas tradition and call or text Santa free from any landline,
phonebox, or Telecom mobile on 0800 22 22 22 up until 25 December, 2013.
Telecom Chief Marketing Officer, Jason Paris said that over the past 20 years Santaline has become part and parcel of
the Kiwi Christmas tradition.
“We all know that technology has changed at pace over the past two decades, but the wonder and excitement our kids feel
at Christmas time has remained the same. Telecom is proud to help fuel this excitement through our now 20-year
arrangement with Santa, which allows Kiwi kids to call and deliver their Christmas wishes to him directly.”
Mr Paris said that he had briefly spoken to Santa earlier in the month and the big guy was gearing up to hear from
thousands of Kiwi kids once again this year.
“Santa and his elves are busy building and gathering presents for kids around the world. He’s looking forward to hearing
about who’s been good over the year, and what will top the wish lists of Kiwi kids in 2013.”
Mr Paris said that Telecom is also expecting a number of kids to email Santa instead of calling, something that has been
a growing trend over the last few years in particular.
“A number of kids now choose to email through their Christmas wishes using their parents’ smartphones, tablets or
laptops. We are seeing Kiwi kids increasingly become ‘tech saavy’ and as Santa is an early adopter of technology, he
welcomes this approach.”
“We’ve had assurance from Santa that he will be checking his emails regularly in the lead up to Christmas and so kids
can email him at santa.claus@telecom.co.nz.”
ENDS