This is the first year Glenice Hall hasn't had her mother to help her decorate her Whangarei house.
But her dying wish was that their Christmas lights would make their annual appearance, continuing their eight-year tradition.
Ms Hall's mother died of cancer on November 9, so her sister Dorothy came up from
Hamilton to help set up this year.
This didn't just mean a day of stringing up lights - the process took three weeks, and started in mid-November.
"It's a lot of work," Ms Hall said. "But when you see the enjoyment that people get out of it, it's wonderful."
The garden has a Wishing Well, with all proceeds going to Hospice, her mother's charity of choice.
In previous years the Child Cancer Foundation has been the lucky recipient of donations, in memory of Ms Hall's grandson who died of cancer in 2003. Last year they collected around $1500 for Child Cancer.
The property on the corner of Hilltop Ave and Tikorangi Place has a driveway running through, meaning cars can drive right through the garden and out the other side.
"But we invite people to park their cars in Tikorangi Place and walk through, then you see all the little details," Ms Hall said.
The display features snowmen, an angel grotto and something a little unusual - Santa on the toilet.
"When cars drive down the driveway you always hear them laughing, and you know they've just seen Santa," she said.
Ms Hall said the week has been pretty quiet, but the last few nights have been busier.
She expects even more visitors in the next couple of nights, especially Christmas Eve.
Santa-puppy Zen, who was born the day before Ms Hall's mother died, has stolen the show with the punters.
"He's been even more popular than Santa," she said.
