Friday 30 November

One Auckland family has the most important job of all tonight: lighting Auckland’s largest Christmas tree and SKYCITY’s Christmas Wonderland and officially starting the countdown to the big day.

Percy Maka and his family were handpicked by Variety – The Children’s Charity to have tonight’s special task as part of the official opening of the Christmas Wonderland at the base of the Sky Tower. The lighting will take place at 8.30pm tonight.

Percy is a recipient of a Variety Gold Heart Scholar for his athletic talent, specifically in discus and shotput. The Gold Heart Scholarship helps Kiwi kids talented in the arts, sports or education to reach their full potential and overcome personal challenges.

Over the past week, the Christmas Wonderland has popped up under the Tower complete with a huge snow globe with life-size gingerbread men, Santa’s sleigh, post box to the North pole, and more than 60 Christmas trees.

The wonderland is open to the public every day with free entertainment including Christmas choirs and live dance shows each Friday and Saturday night from 5.30pm. Santa will take residence at set times each weekend and will be available for those annual family photos for just a gold coin or gift donation to Variety.

SKYCITY has supported Variety since 2005, helping to raise close to $3.6million in fundraising, grants and in-kind sponsorship to Variety over the duration of our partnership.

Closer to Christmas, SKYCITY’s Christmas festivities will double in size, with Federal Street closing to vehicles from 14-24 December to make way for daily Christmas markets, pop up bars and food outlets, and more entertainment every day from midday.

From tonight until December 27 the Sky Tower will be New Zealand’s tallest Christmas tree, with the Sky Tower lighting up in festive red and green.

For photos of the Sky Tower Christmas lighting please download here

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