Kiwi parents have two ways to get Santa on the phone. Santaline (0800 222 222) is Spark's free line that your child rings. A call from Santa, like Santa Call NZ, is the other way round: Santa rings your child. They are quite different experiences, and both have their place.
Side by side
- Who rings whom: with Santaline your child rings Santa. With a Santa call, Santa rings your phone and you hand it over.
- Personal: Santaline's greeting is the same for every caller. A Santa call says your child's name and mentions something they have done well this year.
- Talking back: on Santaline your child leaves a message. On a Santa call, Santa asks what they would like for Christmas, waits for their answer and replies.
- When: Santaline usually opens around the start of December. Santa Call NZ is open now, and you can ring straight away or book a time between 8am and 8pm.
- Keepsake: Santaline leaves nothing to keep. A Santa call comes with the message as an MP3, and if you tick the box, a recording of the whole call with your child's answer in it.
- Cost: Santaline is free. A Santa call is NZ$3.79, and a Santa message by email is NZ$1.87.
When Santaline is the better choice
Santaline is free, it is a Kiwi tradition, and it gives a child the fun of dialling Santa themselves. For a confident five- or six-year-old who loves the idea of ringing the North Pole, it is a great first step. It is also a nice thing to do with a whole group of cousins at once.
When a call from Santa is the better choice
A call from Santa is better when the surprise matters. The phone rings, you look at the screen, raise your eyebrows and say "it's for you". Hearing their own name is what convinces children that Santa really knows them, and it works on doubtful nine- and ten-year-olds too. It also suits shy children, who find it easier to answer one question than to talk to a beep.
And because you get the recording, it is the one you will still be playing back in ten years.
Or do both
They work well together. Your child rings Santaline in early December and leaves their list. A few days later Santa rings them back and asks how the list is going. Here is how to set that up.
Santaline is run by Spark. Santa Call NZ is a separate New Zealand business and is not connected with Spark or Santaline.
Common questions
What is the difference between Santaline and a call from Santa?
With Santaline your child rings Santa and leaves a message. With a call from Santa, Santa rings your child, says their name and talks with them.
Which is better for a shy child?
A call from Santa is usually easier, because Santa does the talking and asks one simple question. Leaving a message after a beep can be hard for shy children.
Can we do both?
Yes. Many families ring Santaline in December to leave a list, then have Santa ring back a few days later.