The giant santa sculpture was made in 1960 by [[Farmers (department store)|Farmers]], a New Zealand department store chain, for their building in Auckland on the corner of Wyndham and [[Hobson Street|Hobson Streets]]. It was placed on the shop annually for each Christmas season.<ref name=”:0″ />
The giant santa sculpture was made in 1960 by [[Farmers (department store)|Farmers]], a New Zealand department store chain, for their building in Auckland on the corner of Wyndham and [[Hobson Street|Hobson Streets]]. It was placed on the shop annually for each Christmas season.<ref name=”:0″ />
Concerns arose in 1990 that the statue would stopped being used after the building was put up for sale. After the [[Westfield Manukau City|Manukau City Shopping Centre]], which had a Farmers store, offered to cover some of the costs for displaying the Santa, it was used at that location from 1991 to 1995. The shopping centre decided not to use the Santa in 1996 because of its “tatty appearance”. During the same year Farmers reportedly had trouble deciding whether they wanted to keep it or not.<ref name=”:0″ />
Concerns arose in 1990 that the statue would being used after the building was put up for sale. After the [[Westfield Manukau City|Manukau City Shopping Centre]], which had a Farmers store, offered to cover some of the costs for displaying the Santa it was used at that location from 1991 to 1995. The shopping centre decided not to use the Santa in 1996 because of its “tatty appearance”. During the same year Farmers reportedly had trouble deciding whether they wanted to keep it or not.<ref name=”:0″ />
The statue was bought in 1998 by Stephen Hanford, a marketing and events consultant, for $1 after two years of negotiations. He found people do give their money and services towards restoring the sculpture, which was done in Southdown Industrial Park in the suburb of [[Penrose, New Zealand|Penrose]]. At a cost of $40,000, the restoration involved painting work and the removal of rot from the fibreglass as well as rust from the interior supporting structure.<ref name=”:0″ />
The statue was bought in 1998 by Stephen Hanford, a marketing and events consultant, for $1 after two years of negotiations. He found people give their money and services towards restoring the sculpture, which was done in Southdown Industrial Park in the suburb of [[Penrose, New Zealand|Penrose]]. At a cost of $40,000, the restoration involved painting work and the removal of rot from the fibreglass as well as rust from the interior supporting structure.<ref name=”:0″ />
After restoration, the Santa was placed on the [[Whitcoulls]], a New Zealand bookshop chain, building on [[Queen Street, Auckland|Queen Street]] in Auckland, with financial support from Whitcoulls, [[Auckland City Council]] and a few companies and individuals. When Hanford moved to Australia in 2003, Whitcoulls became the owners of the Santa. However, the company announced in December 2008 that it could not afford the $55,000 costs and gave it to the city council, causing the costs to be covered by [[ratepayers]]. The statue was refurbished at a cost of above $100,000, reducing the perceived creepiness of the sculpture and replacing the moving finger with a stationary one.<ref name=”:0″ />
After restoration, the Santa was placed on the [[Whitcoulls]] building Queen Street, Auckland, with financial support from Whitcoulls, [[Auckland City Council]] and a few companies and individuals. When Hanford moved to Australia in 2003, Whitcoulls became the owners of the Santa. However, the company announced in December 2008 that it could not afford the $55,000 costs and gave it to the city council, causing the costs to be covered by [[ratepayers]]. The statue was refurbished at a cost of above $100,000, reducing the perceived creepiness of the sculpture and replacing the moving finger with a stationary one.<ref name=”:0″ />
In 2020 the Santa statue stopped being used due to the high cost to maintain and use it, above $200,000 per annum, and because it needed to be restored. It was moved to the [[National Transport & Toy Museum]] in [[Wānaka]], in the [[South Island]], in late 2020, along with as the reindeer that accompanied it.<ref name=”:0″ />
In 2020 the Santa statue stopped being used due to the high cost to maintain and use it, above $200,000 per annum, and because it needed to be restored. It was moved to the [[National Transport & Toy Museum]] in [[Wānaka]], in the [[South Island]], in late 2020, along with as the reindeer that accompanied it.<ref name=”:0″ />
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Sources:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
The sculpture is made of fibreglass and used steel tubing. It is 18 metres (59 ft) tall, has a winking eye and a gesturing finger, made to encourage members of the public to enter the building on which it was located. The finger would move until its refurbishment in 2009. The winking eye would also move, but was turned off in about the 2000s because of complaints by neighbours about the noise that it would produce.[1]
The giant santa sculpture was made in 1960 by Farmers, a New Zealand department store chain, for their building in Auckland on the corner of Wyndham and Hobson Streets. It was placed on the shop annually for each Christmas season.[1]
Concerns arose in 1990 that the statue would stop being used after the building was put up for sale. After the Manukau City Shopping Centre, which had a Farmers store, offered to cover some of the costs for displaying the Santa and it was used at that location from 1991 to 1995. The shopping centre decided not to use the Santa in 1996 because of its “tatty appearance”. During the same year Farmers reportedly had trouble deciding whether they wanted to keep it or not.[1]
The statue was bought in 1998 by Stephen Hanford, a marketing and events consultant, for $1 after two years of negotiations. He found people to give their money and services towards restoring the sculpture, which was done in Southdown Industrial Park in the suburb of Penrose. At a cost of $40,000, the restoration involved painting work and the removal of rot from the fibreglass as well as rust from the interior supporting structure.[1]
After restoration, the Santa was placed on the Whitcoulls building in Queen Street, Auckland, with financial support from Whitcoulls, a New Zealand bookshop chain, Auckland City Council and a few companies and individuals. When Hanford moved to Australia in 2003, Whitcoulls became the owners of the Santa. However, the company announced in December 2008 that it could not afford the $55,000 costs and gave it to the city council, causing the costs to be covered by ratepayers. The statue was refurbished at a cost of above $100,000, reducing the perceived creepiness of the sculpture and replacing the moving finger with a stationary one.[1]
In 2020 the Santa statue stopped being used due to the high cost to maintain and use it, above $200,000 per annum, and because it needed to be restored. It was moved to the National Transport & Toy Museum in Wānaka, in the South Island, in late 2020, along with as the reindeer that accompanied it.[1]
In 2011 the American website cracked.com ranked the Santa statue as the “World’s creepiest Christmas ornament”.[1]
