Nobody could accuse the Hurn family of hiding their light under a bushel.
They are one of dozens of households that have turned The Lakes suburb into a Christmas wonderland this year.
And the trend appears to be escalating.
Luke Hurn has been staying with his parents Mick and Shirley Hurn recently, and has helped take their light display to a new level.
In fact, they are the winners of The Weekend Sun’s Christmas Lights Drive which features 75 properties festooned with Christmas lights.
Since last Friday, public interest has gone through the roof with hundreds of people pouring through the suburb to check out the neighbourhood lights.
Luke says the interest from families is what makes it all worthwhile but there is no denying the competitive edge amongst the leading lights in the neighbourhood.
In fact, since The Weekend Sun picked its winner, the neighbours have upped their game and the Hurns were sitting third in a separate – suburb-specific contest.
“We are going to have to go bigger next year because our neighbours were putting up more (lights) yesterday,” Luke says, with a hint of exhaustion in his voice.
The display needs to be seen to be believed and comes complete with live Christmas trees and a larger than life, illuminated Santa in the front yard.
Luke was all set to bring a 5-metre-tall Santa down from Auckland but they thought it might be a bit over the top.
So what is the secret to success?
Well, the shine has gone off solar-powered Christmas lights, with the advent of low wattage LED’s which shine brighter and last longer.
The Hurns have the whole thing set to a timer that comes on at 8pm and goes off at midnight.
But the lights haven’t been spared the impact of COVID as they seem to have sold out in most stores much earlier than usual.
To see the full list of Christmas lights below:
Hairini
48 Sapphire Drive
Katikati
75A Wills Road
185 Henry Road
Mount Maunganui
44 Ascot Road
55 Russley Drive
41 Bayfair Drive
9 Ulster Street
78 Plateau Heights
Paengaroa
2 Tutea Place
11 Tutea Place
Papamoa
1 Kamahi Crescent
116 Wairakei Ave
117 Wairakai Ave
118 Wairakei Ave
123 Wairakei Avenue
124 Wairakei Avenue
132 Wairakei Ave
193A Parton Road
25 Montego Drive
5 Monte Carlo Key
30 Bucklands Crescent
54 Sandhurst Drive
97 Blake Boulevard
1 Fontana Street
4 Te Wharo Drive
1269 Papamoa Beach Road
44 Oreti Crescent
Oreti Crescent - whole street
Evans Road Community Church - 30 Evans Road
1 Kamahi Crescent
Matua
37 Woods Ave
Maungatapu
5 Tutauanui Crescent
5 Plover Place
14 Plover Place
16 Plover Place
22 Plover Place
Poike
31 Lagoon Place
Ohauiti
1 Riddington Rise
Otumoetai
13A Tupaea Place
4 Ashwood Place
Brookfield
122C Darraghs Road
Pyes Pa
31A Mortlake Heights
44 Kereru Place
24 Mortlake Heights
Mortlake Heights - The Whole Street
Matepu Crescent - The Whole Street
Tauranga
Baycourt - 38 Durham Street
Red Square Devonport Road Downtown
53 Ninth Ave
Welcome Bay
26 Estuary View Road
51 Discovery Avenue
1 Highlander Place
58 Welcome Bay Road
Te Puke
15 Sunset Drive
32 Beatty Ave
212 Benner Road
47 Valley Road
Waihi Beach
126 Seaforth Road
Waihi
23 Mataura Road
Source: SunLive.co.nz
