Franklin Rd turns it on for Christmas

By GREGG WYCHERLEY

A strange, almost surreal sight greets visitors to Ponsonby's Franklin Rd after dark.

Glittering rows of light-bedecked houses provide a bizarre backdrop as a scooter-borne Santa and his helpers hand out sweets while traffic slows and families stroll beneath the overhanging trees.

Franklin Rd has become an Auckland landmark since residents began lighting their houses in 1992 for Christmas.

It is a tradition now, gathering momentum every year as more and more houses join in.

New residents know the lights are part and parcel of Franklin Rd, and even before they move in are warned to expect a visit from the man known to his neighbours as the kingpin of the lighting operation.

Ross Thorby was not the first resident to put up lights, but he is the most committed, supplying neighbours with lights imported from the United States and even helping with designs.

"A neighbour and I put a couple of light strings up and then had a bit of a competition - that's how it all took off.

"Then we decided we'd spread it through the neighbourhood."

Mr Thorby said that for the first few years only 10 or 15 houses lit up, but then it started spreading.

"Last year we had 55, this year we've got more than 60 - I'm aiming to have the whole street done eventually."

But Franklin Rd is not alone in its Christmas light obsession.

Carol Whitley moved in to her home in Landscape Rd, Mt Eden, eight months ago and hopes to start a trend among her neighbours.

She said the small size of her house limited her artistic endeavours, but she still managed to spend $1600 on more than 2000 lights.

Few of the surrounding houses have taken up the challenge to outshine their neighbours, and some even seem a little bemused.

"They're mostly elderly people and I think I've given them a shake-up," she said.

"They wondered what had struck them when I came here."

Bill Nerheny has been lighting his house in Stott Ave, Birkdale, for six years and tries a different design each year.

About 25 houses in his street light up and a constant stream of visitors keeps residents and onlookers entertained.

"It just goes mad from 8.30 pm, when the lights go on, until they go out at 11.30 pm - on an average night I suppose 250 cars go up the street."

Franklin Rd was quite impressive, he said, but perhaps lacking in individuality.

"Most of theirs are done in white lights, of course - whereas our street has gone for bright colours and more of an individual style."

And what of those unlucky few, "the lightless" as their more luminous neighbours refer to them?

Julia Zaak, a Swedish visitor living in one such house on Franklin Rd, said she and her six flatmates hadn't got around to putting up lights, and felt a little guilty for letting the side down.

"I see them giving us the evil eye," she joked.

"But if somebody gives us the lights we'll definitely put them up."

Next year's job for the kingpin, perhaps.