Raetihi's Santa Claus this year was a much loved woman who works at the Nancy Winter Childcare Centre.
Aroha Williams, mother-of-two was an energetic Santa who danced, hugged and high-fived all the children at the town's Christmas market and parade last Saturday.
"I really loved it I hope they ask me again next year,'' she laughed.
While she was sitting in Santa's Cave before the parade and the mums and dads came in with their children she of course knew most of them.
So when a child clambered on her knee she greeted them by name.
"A few of them couldn't quite believe it.''