(PR.co.nz) The hugely popular Telecom Tree will again bring some Christmas sparkle to Aucklanders, with opening night scheduled for the evening of Saturday 27 November.
The Telecom Tree will return to Western Park on Ponsonby Road where visitors will be able to enjoy incredible light shows – which they can design themselves – from dusk each evening until Boxing Day.
Telecom is encouraging visitors to the Telecom Tree to bring gifts for children who will go without this Christmas. The gifts will be distributed around the country by Women’s Refuge – the official charity of the Telecom Tree – for the children to open on Christmas Day.
“Over the past two years the Telecom Tree has become a popular Christmas attraction for many Auckland families as well as visitors, with more than 200,000 people experiencing the magic last year alone,” says Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds.
Mr Reynolds says, “Our thanks must go to our partners The Auckland Council and the Ponsonby Business Association for their ongoing support in helping ensure the Telecom Tree keeps sparkling each year.”
Ponsonby Business Association Chair Viv Rosenberg says, “We’re thrilled that the Telecom Christmas Tree will once again light up Western Park this year and help make Ponsonby even more magical for our residents and visitors to enjoy. It also ties in nicely with the line up of Christmas activities we have in the area, such as the famous Franklin Road lights.”
The stunning 27 metre-high Telecom Tree (about seven storeys) is constructed from 375,000 lights and has 16 million possible colour combinations.
The Tree also provides a place for children to ring the North Pole direct from dedicated Telecom Santaline phone boxes at the base of the Tree. As they make their wish, their voices magically activate the lights running from their phone box to the star at the top of the Tree.
This year, anyone can design their own light show and have it displayed on the Tree. Those keen to try their hand can log on to telecomtree.co.nz from launch night, follow the simple steps to create their design, and then choose what time they want it to play out on the Telecom Tree. Then they need to grab their family and friends and head to the Tree to watch their design light up the night.
An identical Telecom Tree will return to Wellington’s waterfront, located this year at Waitangi Park, with opening night scheduled for Tuesday 30 November.
For those who can’t make it to Auckland or Wellington, the nationwide toll free Santaline will be taking Christmas wish-lists from November 27 until Christmas day.
Last year more than 950,000 calls were made from right across New Zealand. Hopeful children will again be able to call Santa to tell him they’ve been good and what they’re wishing for on 0800 222 222. Or they can submit their request online at telecomtree.co.nz.
Visit telecomtree.co.nz for more information.
Where: Western Park, Ponsonby Road, Auckland
When: From 27 November to 26 December with lightshows from dusk every day, and extra special events on 27 November and Christmas Eve
Media Release 19 November 2010 from Telecom NZ.