Pine or Pōhutukawa

All this goodwill walks in the door, people bring goodwill with them when they come in the door ... Sometimes I think it's a bit like surfing, you know, it's like you've got the big wave of goodwill and you just get on the board and ride.

– Minister Glynn Cardy on the happy atmosphere in his Christmas services

It's all in the sniff. Absolutely.

– Lynda Towers from Elite Christmas Trees on artificial trees lacking that pine smell

Choice! Kinda strange though, it's summer and all these decorations are dressed for winter.

– Presenter Pio Terei on Northern Hemisphere Christmas toys and decorations in Aotearoa

It's kinda hard to get Kiwi kinda themes. Like, I can't find a kiwi that lights up — otherwise I would have one!

– "Christmas nut" Jeni Pearce on the difficulty in finding Kiwi Xmas decorations

About two or three days before today I'm in a panic, thinking "no one's gonna do it, what am I going to do? I'm going to feel socially embarrassed". And then it just all comes together — like today there's houses everywhere putting them up.

– Franklin Road resident Roscoe Thorby on his street's annual Christmas light tradition

I think the best Christmas dinner is seafood on the barbie.

– Vox pop about preferred Christmas lunches

It'll be "bro, bro, bro, Merry Christmas bro!"

– Pio Terei on his alternative Aotearoa Christmas carol

The hangi thing is gone, 'cos that's too much hassles. It's easy just to cook some chicken, debone it, have a salad and have a big feed, and that's us.

– Rangi Kereopa on how times have changed at her Christmas table

We call them the true believers, the little kids who stand there with eyes like saucers, really believing in it. And it's kind of something you have to take seriously.

– Cultural critic Hamish Keith on his time playing Santa Claus for the neighbourhood kids

If the motorway shuts down our phones just go crazy, and then our girls abused left, right and centre from customers who haven't got their freight and there's nothing we can do about it, we physically can't move around Auckland. We're locked.

– Courier Manager Laurene Wade on her workplace stress leading up to Christmas Day

I’ve outlived many a commissioner and CEO of television networks. They’d come in with a definite idea. You have to do this and you have to work with that. But, once people start telling you what you have to do, nah — I’m outta there, bro.

– Pio Terei on his successful TV career, E-Tangata, 17 March 2019