There's nothing like the sight and smell of a Christmas tree in the house to inspire some festive spirit.
And over the past month, masses of New Zealanders have chased around the countryside searching for a perfectly-shaped, fresh, glossy specimen.
Last weekend proved most popular for tree-hunters, and those who have left their run until the last few days may struggle to find a pine at all.
The shortage has meant a bonanza for 16-year-old Daniel Gibson, who has spent the last fortnight sitting on the side of East Coast Rd with his sign reading "Busy [it should have been Bushy] Xmas Trees."
His days start at 8.30 am and end as late as 6 or 7 pm, depending on how quickly he sells out.
"I read my surf mags, listen to the radio and basically eat McDonald's all day.
"I'm getting a bit fried, but I thought I'd stay an extra couple of days now that the other sellers have gone."
He buys about 10 trees every morning, or 16 on Saturdays and Sundays, for $14 each and sells them for $20 or $25.
Wholesale growers sell their pine trees to distributors for about $8, who then sell them to the roadside vendors for about $14.
Most of the trees came from Dairy Flat, Albany or Kaipara Heads. A seedling pine can be bought for less than $1.
John Broekhuysen, 18, has sold Christmas trees on Carlisle Rd in Browns Bay for three years and was doing a roaring trade yesterday. Katie Hayward-Wu, who runs The Tree Company in Orakei, says most trees are two or three years old by the time they are sold, and should be trimmed to a standard shape.
"Most people got their trees last weekend. Now we have people coming in looking for a tree at any price."
Carter Holt Harvey is suffering its annual radiata pine loss, as some people steal their Christmas tree.
Company spokeswoman Julia Smith says no one seems to take them in great numbers, but the company has noticed up to 10 missing from one of its forests.
It is an offence to take the trees, but no one has yet been prosecuted, she says.
Christmas tress are thin on the ground in Rotorua, where one of the most popular tree lots sold out on Wednesday.
Alan Bruce, of the Rotorua East Bowling Club, which sells Christmas trees as fundraiser, sold close to 400 in one week.
While most of the trees he grows behind the club are donated, he pays $2 for others and then sells them to the public - $20 for a three-year-old tree, or $15 for a two-year-old.
He says smaller, bushier trees have become more popular in recent years and that good pruning is essential in producing a fine Christmas tree with dense growth that looks good when decorated.
If you want your tree to stay fresher for longer, try placing several Disprin in the water.
Allergy sufferers and others who do not care for the real thing can buy realistic imitation Douglas firs.
Fibre-optic trees range from about $17 for a 1.2m specimen to $100 for one twice that size. They are easy to assemble and are advertised as safe to use with lights. The decorations, of course, cost extra.
And if you fancy something quirky, there is a 1m "talking" tree. Priced at $70, it has eyes that open, close and light up. It will also serenade the Christmas party with three carols and says "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year."
But whatever kind of tree is in your living room, remember to take it down no later than 12 days after Christmas or suffer bad luck.
Perfect Christmas pine hard to find
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