Here at St Johns Kindergarten, our Santa Claus is Coming to Auckland photo booth was ready to celebrate Auckland’s release from lockdown on Friday 3 December and our entry into the Red setting.

The children enjoyed wheel-barrowing in sand to make a sandcastle beside the sleigh (under the Kiwiana wreath), sadly out of view in this photo but decorated with Pōhutakawa blossom from our kindergarten.

Can you spot:

The Sky Tower?
The Auckland Harbour Bridge? (hint – blueish lights at night)
Santa’s sleigh leaving the North Pole?
The Westpac rescue helicopter?
A caravan?
A red bucket and spade?
Treats for Santa and his reindeer?

In the 1823 poem A Visit From St. Nicolas: ‘Dasher and Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!’ there were 8 reindeer. Then in 1939 along came the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, so now there are 9.
Can you spot our 5 reindeer all made by children and Marty 3 years ago? The children helped cut out the jig-sawed brown ones from a parent’s drawing.