A Friendly Reminder That NZ Holds A Nationwide Secret Santa And It’s So Pure
Even the Prime Minister takes part.

It’s nearly Christmas, and you know what that means — it’s time for New Zealand’s nationwide secret santa, the sweetest and purest expression of love and national pride of all time, probably.
And yeah, you heard that right — New Zealand has been holding a nationwide secret santa for the past seven years. People across the country sign up to send another random citizen a lovely anonymous gift, using their recipient’s Twitter account as a guide to work out what they might like. It’s run by NZ Post, and even the Prime Minister takes part. Seriously, here’s a super sweet video of Jacinda Ardern opening her present yesterday:
So although my #nzsecretsanta didn't quite get there this year, a #SuperSecretSanta stepped up amazingly for me. Thank you so much, whoever you are!! @nzsecretsanta pic.twitter.com/ynnqp4CaeT
— Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern) December 19, 2017
If you’re wishing you were in on the gift exchange right now, we’ve got the next best thing for you: over the years, it’s become customary for Kiwis to share pictures of the gifts they receive on social media.
The hashtag #NZSecretSanta is honestly the happiest place on the internet right now. It’s great to live vicariously through the hashtag while bemoaning the fact that you live in Australia where the government’s idea of festivity is a Cabinet reshuffle and the national postal service just coordinates extremely harmful polls on whether to support LGBTIQ+ people’s human rights.
But enough on that: back to the heartwarming content of New Zealand’s Secret Santa. See for example, this extraordinary gift, where some random stranger cross-stitched an iconic 50 Cent tweet.
I JUST SPAT OUT MY COFFEE MY SECRET SANTA JUST WON CHRISTMAS I WILL TREASURE IT FOREVER ❤️? (ft. The best tweet of all time) #nzsecretsanta pic.twitter.com/uWeXb6rGzj
— Alice HOWton (@Alice_Houghton) December 18, 2017
Or this beautiful gift, which featured a gorgeous cloth map of New Zealand, a handbook on disaster survival and a pack of Russian fudge. Honestly, strangers in New Zealand are giving each other better and more elaborate gifts than I’ve been buying for my closest family members.
I just got my @nzsecretsanta and I am overwhelmed. It's the first time I've participated and the gifts are perfect!
I will treasure this cloth map of Aotearoa always, it's going straight up on my wall.
Arohanui ❤ pic.twitter.com/r4Y2cz5wx9
— Kilbirnie Sanders (@kilbrniesanders) December 19, 2017
Are you emotional yet? No? Then check out these kids, who got to open a huge package of customised geeky presents featuring all their favourite fandoms. Their Secret Santa obviously did their homework.
Ok, composed now. So, the mini-geeks and I were a little confused because we had two gifts, what a lovely surprise! One of the parcels had Harry Potter stickers on it, which the boys were MEGA excited about pic.twitter.com/iyO4U8a6GV
— GeekyKel (@comicbookgal) December 18, 2017
Opened the rolled up something and CUE TEARS! OMG, I love it so very much. I'm going to make room for it on our fridge door. The boys were having fun working out the fandoms pic.twitter.com/1IVBEbhGRD
— GeekyKel (@comicbookgal) December 18, 2017
And you handmade us decorations for the #HarryPotterChristmasTree ? AMAZING! Thank you so so much #nzsecretsanta, you really went above and beyond xxx pic.twitter.com/35qp5dKVPR
— GeekyKel (@comicbookgal) December 18, 2017
Handmade gifts are a bit of a trend this year actually. Look at all the thought that went into these!
Thank you so so much #nzsecretsanta whoever you are ❤️ You’ve put a big smile on my dial with your thoughtfulness and very, very cute gifts. So spoilt. You’re awesome. Thank you for sharing the Christmas love ❤️❤️❤️ Hope your santa treated you too! X pic.twitter.com/iC420tPF6q
— Janelle Collins (@JanelleMareeC) December 19, 2017
Kiwi hospitality overload! Huge thanks to my #nzsecretsanta for this *amazingly* thoughtful 1st NZ Xmas survival kit!!! ? ???? pic.twitter.com/XBXIYwdDdN
— Demian Smith (@_demiansmith) December 19, 2017
@nzsecretsanta omg…I don't know what to say…the trouble that SS went to, in making this and even knowing where I'm from. Also for donating to The Aunties on my behalf x
??#catchingfeelings pic.twitter.com/XfXIbgIDkh
— Maree Webster (@REE_OW) December 19, 2017
I mean, this one is a custom mug printed with a pic of the recipient’s dog. Look at these pictures of the dog opening it. What could possibly be more delightfully festive?
There’s epic, there’s legendary, and then there’s this: so good, there’s no word for it! Thank you, #nzsecretsanta, for a brilliant idea and a wonderful moment. Foley and I are very happy. ❤️? pic.twitter.com/U9U3Fd4O6m
— Troy Rawhiti-Forbes (@TroyRF) December 19, 2017
And while we’re on the topic of wonderful New Zealand animals, please see this memorial mug for Paddles, the First Cat of New Zealand who sadly died earlier this year.
A Paddles memorial Coffee mug – what an outstanding #nzsecretsanta gift! Thank you mystery giver
Ping @FirstCatofNZ @NZClarke @jacindaardern pic.twitter.com/OO60ACrHic— James O'Doherty (@jmodoh) December 18, 2017
And finally, you may be wondering — if Jacinda Ardern received a gift, does that mean some random New Zealander got a gift from their PM? The answer, friends, is yes — and here it is (she didn’t sign it, but it includes a pin given to world leaders at the APEC economic forum last month, which was a bit of a cheeky tipoff).
It's here!!! Thank you so much #nzsecretsanta I love it all, I've wanted this book for my girls for ages especially! Oh and to those interested, the pin will give away who my santa was…… pic.twitter.com/xp59DFMOcc
— Rebecca Terry (@BecksT84) December 19, 2017
Anyway, if you need me today I’ll be getting emotional in the depths of the #NZSecretSanta tag. I highly recommend you spend some time there today.
And Australia Post, if you’re reading this, take note. Maybe 2018 is the year Australia’s national secret santa takes off.