Auckland's giant Santa has been saved for the next three years thanks to businesses which have stepped in to cover the costs of putting him back up on Queen Street.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS?!?!?! Forget Creepy Santa, pay me that and I'll sit up there for 3 months: pic.twitter.com/Opo5ynLRRK
— André Alessi (@AndreAlessi) October 22, 2014
The 54-year-old, 19m-high Santa was set to be axed after the city's promotion agency, Heart of the City, said it could no longer afford the $180,000 cost of displaying him.
Construction firm Mansons TCLM has promised to use its own cranes, transport, equipment and staff to put Santa up and take him down for the next three years.
As well, SkyCity has pledged $50,000 a year for the next three years to over such costs as storage.
