With Christmas fast approaching, Santa's helpers are getting ready to take over shopping malls across the country.
There's been a record number of applications for the festive job this year, with around 50 successful recruits preparing to don the famous red suit.
But, before they can start hearing children's Christmas wishes, they've got some training to get through.
At Santa School, the recruits are learning how to perfect their "ho ho ho," stay in character and bring a little Christmas magic to families.
NZ Santa Ambassador Ed Brown said being a good Santa was about more than simply looking the part.
What was Santa to you as a child?
"They need to basically take on the whole persona. If you remember Santa as a kid, what is he to you? And that's what we have to do."
For some, it was a job they had returned to year after year.
One Santa said he enjoyed having a laugh with older visitors, recalling a time he told a woman there were no Barbies left for Christmas.
Another said there was enough bad news in the world, and if he could make people laugh, smile or even cry — he would give it a go.
Brown said this year's recruitment has been particularly strong, after the agency struggled to find enough suitable Santas and staff last year.
'Very jolly'
"All of our Santas are very jolly. The Christchurch Santas are just fantastic because they love singing and just bringing the joy. So, yeah, we have a really, really good crowd here."
The successful applicants come from a range of backgrounds, including younger recruits in their 20s and 30s with acting experience.
They'll be spread across malls throughout the country, helping take some of the pressure off the real Santa by hearing Christmas wish lists and reporting back to the North Pole.
But the job can also come with some unexpected conversations.
"You have that love of making people smile and laugh. Sometimes you sit there and you are a marriage guidance counsellor. It could be a grief counsellor," one Santa said.
"The job is not always about making people laugh. Sometimes you just have to make them at least smile."
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And while children might be the obvious audience, Santa's visitors come in all ages.
Could Charlotte Mulder be a Santa?
One Santa recalled holding a one-week-old baby, while another time a 90-year-old visitor came in for a Christmas photo.
Each Santa brought their own style to the role, and there was even the option of becoming Mrs Claus.
Breakfast reporter Charlotte Mulder was put her own Santa impression to the test, with a few pointers from the experts on how to get the perfect "ho ho ho".
The verdict? An eight out of 10 for a first attempt – frankly, an impressive result from experts.
With graduation just around the corner, these Santas were almost ready to hit the malls — and judging by the sound of things, Christmas was in very good hands.
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