Bay of Plenty Times' Christmas Lights winners Kevin and Carol Torr's home on Kaitemako Road. Photo/Andrew Warner
Retired Welcome Bay couple Kevin and Carol Torr say putting up their decorations each year has become a labour of love.
The couple, who live at 131 Kaitemako Rd, are this year's winner of the Bay Of Plenty Times Christmas Lights Trail Competition and go all out each year to bring Christmas joy to their neighbourhood.
"We get a real buzz out of seeing people's reaction," Kevin said.
"It's a big job putting up all the lights and other decorations but we love doing it," he said.
"When kids tells us our Christmas display is awesome, and some people say it's the best they have ever seen, it makes it all worthwhile."
Kevin Torr, a retired builder, said this was the 10th or 11th year he and his wife had entered the competition but they had been putting up lights at their home for 25 years.
Planning for the each year's Christmas lights display started in mid November, he said.
"But I don't make my mind up until the day where I will place things. We try to do something different each year, including adding four or five projector lights this time round."
This year including fairy lights and LED lights there were about 45,000 light bulbs, and the whole display took seven days to put up and two to three days to take down, Kevin said.
Most of the lights were bought from stores and Kevin also built his own system to control the power voltage of all lights.
He had no idea what the effect on their power bill would be.
Carol said winning the competition was a "wonderful surprise" and they were delighted to get the nod.
"But this is not why we do this. When we see the amazed looks on the faces of the children and adults too, and see how appreciative they are it gives us such as warm glow."
Kat Hicks, Bay of Plenty brand engagement and partnership manager for NZME, said the the Torrs won through the public voting system at thehits.co.nz
"A well-deserved prize, Kevin and Carol's place won by an overwhelming number of votes, and have received a $500 Gilmours voucher, thanks to Gilmours Tauranga," she said.
Runner up was Shekira Parata from 81 Orion Drive in Welcome Bay, who won a $100 Gilmours voucher. Plus four voters won $100 Gilmours vouchers as spot prizes.
59 entries in the 2017 Bay of Plenty Times' Christmas Trail competition:
13 entries from Papamoa, 12 from Maungatapu, eight each in Welcome Bay and Paengaroa, 5 in Katikati, 3 in Ohauiti, 2 each in Greerton and Waihi, plus one entry each from Matua, Pillans Point, Pyes Pa, Brookfield, Mount Maunganui and Kaimai Range.