FILE
LEGO, nerf guns, Frozen merchandise and Bunch O Balloons are set to be among the top toys unwrapped on Christmas Day this year-with a walking unicorn proving so popular it's already sold out in some stores.
Farmers buying manager Rob Taurima is picking plenty of water fights around Rotorua on Christmas morning with Bunch O Balloons, a way to fill numerous water balloons easily at once, one of the store's top-selling items.
It's also proving popular at The Warehouse as one of the top 10-selling toys.
Mr Taurima said he believed some of the popularity of the toy, which filled and tied dozens of water balloons in a matter of seconds, was because it was a "healthy kind of play".
"We know that it will have legs after Christmas as well because the weather just gets better."
The Lego set on Farmers' list was representative of the whole brand, he said.
"Lego is on most boys' Christmas wishlist in some form or another." For girls, Little Live Pets and FurReal Friends - both automated animals - were huge this Christmas.
The longevity of Frozen toys in the market had surprised toy buyers-given the movie was released in December 2013. Star Wars Episode VII merchandise, ahead of the New Zealand launch of the movie on December 18, was also selling fast.
"That product range is really performing well for us at the moment and will continue now into the launch of the movie."
Every year in summer, trampolines and swing sets were popular closer to Christmas. The Warehouse Rotorua store manager Sally Rison agreed the Bunch O Balloons had been a hot item and said traditional favourites like Lego, bikes and pools all remained big sellers.
"Bikes and pools are huge." The store had seen kinetic sand, one of the hot toys from last Christmas, retaining its popularity. Ms Rison said Lego and Nerf guns were proving popular with the boys.
"Obviously for the girls it's still Frozen. It has the pretty factor. Frozen would be the standout for the girls."
Soft toys remained popular and it was a case of the bigger the better, with the jumbo sized bears among the most popular. "Minions are still very popular too." Monkey Kids owner Kimberley Edwards agreed bikes were popular and said the biggest seller was Wishbone Bikes - especially a new recycled edition.
"That's the big thing." Quality wooden toys like the Moover Pram were popular while mermaid tails were also a hit for the girls.
"Fancy dress is always popular. "Anything that has more than one use and people want something that has longevity."
Mrs Edwards said craft products were huge and she believed people were making the move towards quality products over quantity.
"For the older kids, we've got French craft lines and Logix games which are big."
She believed the adult colouring craze had made people more aware of colouring and art as gift options.
- Additional reporting Michele Hunter