Does Santa think Northlanders are naughty or nice?
The Northern Advocate interviewed Santa for a special Christmas 10 questions feature.
Tonight, Santa will deliver presents to the children of Northland, and a few adults too. The Northern Advocate caught up with Santa and asked him 10 questions just before he set off on his annual trip around the world.
1: Describe yourself in three words?
Jolly. Round. Busy.
2: What is the most important advice you have ever been given?
"The hurrier I go, the behinder I get." Mrs Claus is always telling me to slow down, especially at Christmas. I once left my cellphone behind. She was pretty peeved about that.
3: What album is playing on your stereo/computer at the moment?
I'm bringing Taylor Swift's 1989 with me to play in the sleigh this year. "Shake it off, shake it off".
Rudolph hates the album. What would he know about music? He likes Oasis.
4: In the movie of your life, who would play the lead role?
I think if Whangarei's Kelly Johnson grew a beard and ate a few more pies he'd do a good job of it.
5: What is the one thing you could not live without each day?
My iPhone. I love my Spotify app. I charge my cellphone off Rudolph's nose too - that's handy.
My elves have developed a special Santa app with GPS this year - vital for finding all the children in the Far North, Kaipara and Whangarei.
6: Tell us something that most people don't know about you?
I'd like to shave off my beard and do Movember. I think a horseshoe moustache would look great, but then I'd get mistaken for Hulk Hogan.
I'd also like to go on a summer holiday with Mrs Claus, by plane, to somewhere sunny like Northland.
7: Have the boys and girls of Northland been naughty or nice this year?
All of the children have been very good, but I'm afraid there are some adults that have been downright naughty. Some of your politicians will be getting nothing more than a muddy kumara under the tree this year, if they're lucky.
8: What have the people of Northland been asking for this year?
The children wanted toys from Frozen and Hunger Games, as well as drones, remote control helicopters and dolls.
Adults have been writing to me looking for an arts centre for Whangarei. Gift an arts centre to the city? Didn't somebody already do that?
9: What are you hoping to get for Christmas?
I'd like to pimp up the sleigh, add a little more bling. I'm thinking of a chrome trim and an upgraded speaker system attached to Blitzen's antlers and inside near my seat, a coffee machine and refrigerator.
There's a dent in it too from when I clipped Mt Parihaka last year that I need to get a panelbeater to look at. The elves were too busy to do it.
10: Do you enjoy coming to Northland?
Northanders leave the best milk and cookies. Someone in Kaitaia once left me some yummy ginger cake.
Landing in Tutukaka and at Sandy Bay is a nightmare in a sleigh though.
I sometimes land at Whangarei Airport too - I'm glad they're looking at getting a bigger one. When the reindeer are tired they need a little more landing room.
We travel at the speed of light though, so we won't be waking anyone up when we land. Unless, I decide to turn up Taylor Swift at the chorus. Sorry in advance!