Christmas is around the corner and Tauranga Crossing is getting ready for the festive season following the arrival of Santa Claus on Thursday, November 28. Santa is offering two additional special sessions at the mall this year for customers to enjoy.

Sensitive Santa times will enable customers to meet Santa in a calm and comfortable environment outside of regular shopping hours, and ‘Santa Paws' pet photographer sessions will offer the chance for customers to get a photo of their pet with the man himself.

Tauranga Crossing recognises that trips to the mall can be quite a challenge for some people, so they have set up a number of Sensitive Santa sessions where customers can visit Santa Claus in a more relaxed setting, outside of the normal shopping hours. The shopping centre will be much quitter and the lights will be lower.

The Sensitive Santa sessions will run on Wednesday, December 4 and 13 from 7am to 8.30am. Bookings are essential and can be made via that Tauranga Crossing website.

'We understand that mall environments can be stressful for some of our shoppers and wanted to ensure that our Christmas activity is inclusive for all of our community,” says centre manager at Tauranga Crossing Andrew Wadsworth.

'The Sensitive Santa experience will allow families to visit Santa at his new Toy Workshop in a much more relaxed environment and the booking system will also reduce queueing time, which we know can be a very stressful time for parents and children.”

‘Santa Paws' sessions will also be available for customers to get cute photos of their pets with Santa, a great shot for the annual Christmas family photo. These sessions will run from 7pm to 8.30pm on Friday, December 6 and Wednesday December 11. Bookings are essential via the Tauranga Crossing website and pets must be kept on a leash, in a carrier or held by the owner at all times.

This year, Tauranga Crossing has also partnered with budding local artist Millie Hewitt, to create a bespoke handcrafted Kiwi Christmas decoration that children will be given when they visit Santa's Toy Workshop. The wooden decoration will also come with a set of colouring pencils so they can be personalised to each child.

This is the first decoration in a collectable series which will continue in future years. Each year the decoration will be designed by a different local artist who will put their spin on Kiwi Christmas.

'I loved having the opportunity to help create something special for Santa to give kids this Christmas at Tauranga Crossing,” says Millie.

'My design is inspired by a Kiwi Christmas and it's an ornament that I hope children will give their own creative touch to go on their Christmas tree.”

Tauranga Crossing will have extended hours throughout the festive period.

Tauranga Crossing Christmas Opening Hours:

Monday 16th December - Monday 23rd December, 9am - 9pm.

Tuesday 24th December, 9am - 6pm.

Wednesday 25th December, Closed.

Thursday 26th December, 8am - 7pm.

Friday 27th - Friday 3rd January, 9am - 6pm.

For more information visit:

https://www.taurangacrossing.co.nz