Kiwi kids' imaginations have run wild, designing a new sleigh for Santa’s summer travels to Aotearoa.
With the big man in red preparing to deliver pressies across the country next month, it only makes sense he has a fitting vehicle.
LEGO NZ put it to talented young Kiwis to create a sleigh perfect for Santa to ride in style during his shift down under - and two designs definitely stood out.
Siblings 11-year-old Aston and eight-year-old Ruby from Snells Beach added some unique Kiwi touches to their creations.
Ruby’s Tractor Sleigh design was inspired by her small beach hometown. “The red tractors [in Snells Beach] pull boats to the shore every summer,” she explained. “I imagined Santa flying around New Zealand with Kiwi [birds] leading the way, carrying a boat full of cool Kiwiana presents.”
Her older brother Aston incorporated a giant koru into his design.
“We thought it would be cool to bring the native New Zealand koru plant to life to help Santa get around,” he said.
“The shape of the koru looks like a sleigh on its side, and with Kiwi birds guiding him, it would be the perfect way for Santa to travel across New Zealand.”
The designs are so impressive they’ve been brought to life by award-winning children’s author Sophie Beer in Santa’s Summer Sleigh, a storybook celebrating Santa’s travels across Australasia on Christmas Eve.
It will be released on the 24th of November to download and listen to in both an English and te reo Māori audio book - a first for Lego.
On that same day, Sophie will be doing a live reading of the book at the Farmers' Santa Parade in Auckland, where Ruby and Aston's tractor design will be build into life-size lego float.
Luckily some Kiwis will be able to see it up close - otherwise how would we know what to look out for in the sky come Christmas Eve?
