Santa is big in Auckland, too

Whitcoulls is, as it claims, "one of New Zealand's favorite bookstores." But one of the store's biggest holiday features comes during Christmas, which is usually sunny and warm (December being the middle of the island nation's summer), when the store brings out its giant Santa. People line the city's sidewalks, mostly on busy Queen Street, and click photos of the big bearded guy. During the day we spent in Auckland, I was no different.