Magic moments in kids' season of joy

Sitting on Santa's lap, her eyes were wide with fascination and a smile was plastered across her face. Giggling with immense happiness, little Ella McDonald-Brown shared her special Christmas wish with Santa Claus.
She was one of the many people, both young and young at heart, who ventured to Bayfair Shopping Centre yesterday to share a special moment with the big man in red.
Waiting in line, Ella fidgeted and bounced. When Santa looked over and waved, Ella looked back in awe.
"It's moments like these that melt your heart," said Santa.
"I love seeing the look on the kids faces and it makes Christmas what it is."
This Santa has been helping the "real Santa" for about 30 years in the Western Bay and beyond.
"A lot of kids think that I'm the real Santa and if they want me to be then that's up to them," he said.
"The ones that don't believe, I tell them Santa can't be everywhere at once so he has a few special people he calls on and I'm one of those people and I feel very honoured to help."
During his time helping the man from the North Pole, Santa has been visited by people of all ages. His youngest visitor was four hours old and his oldest was 103 years.
Many ask for toys and games - this year's hit picks are Beyblades and Barbie dolls.
While some Christmas wishes he can grant, others he can't, and it's these occasions that are truly memorable. An 8-year-old girl once asked for two goats for a village in Africa.
"It breaks my heart ... every year someone has lost a loved one ... but I tell them God needs them more than we need them and they're up there with the angels.
"It's the children that don't want anything for themselves ... they're the ones who truly are special kids."
While Santa will have a listening ear this Christmas to hear of all your desires, he will also be sharing Christmas spirit and a safety message to all.
"It's important for children to realise it's not always the expensive gifts that are the best," he said.
"It's the time spent together and the gifts that have a lot of family value that truly mean the most."
Santa said Christmas was a busy time, which brought death and destruction to New Zealand roads, so he urged children to warn their parents if they're too tired to drive, to stop and rest.
While Santa does have a day-job, when asked what he will be doing after his stint at Bayfair Shopping Centre, he replied: "I'll probably have a good feed then rest up for the next 360 days until next Christmas."
WHEN SANTA WILL BE IN TOWN:
Dec 13-15: 10am-4pm
Dec 16-17: 10am-6pm
Dec 18-19: 10am-4pm
Dec 20-23: 10am-7pm
Dec 24: 10am-4pm