It started out as a bit of Christmas one-upmanship between Shane Spalding and his father-in-law.

'The father-in-law moved into a new house up the road and said: ‘New house I must put some lights up'.

'Then I said: ‘I might put lights up'.

'He said: ‘I will put more up'. And I said: ‘You won't put up as many as me'.”

It was good natured one-upmanship. And all us Santa-philes benefited.

Because 11 years and $14,000 later the tour buses are dropping by Shane's Highlander Place home in Welcome Bay, and the vans full of retirement village residents are stopping by. And anyone else who is entranced by the wonders of Santa and Christmas lights.

Shane's Christmas lights are a showstopper – a two-storeyed, illuminated Rockefeller Plaza right here in the suburbs of Tauranga. 'I believe in the joy of Christmas,” says Shane. 'My girl who is 11-and-a-half says all her friends were trying to convince her Santa doesn't exist. I asked her whether she believed and she said: ‘Yes'. And I said: ‘I do too'. I am, a big kid at heart.”

And when the lights start pulling the punters Shane gets in character – he puts on his red suit and white whiskers and goes out and mingles. 'I just enjoy doing it.”

Shane has another 50 sets of lights waiting in the garage. 'No, they won't go up this year. But you will see them. I swap them round every year. And I have another 20 or so sets that I no longer use. I have started giving them away to the kids who come round. I believe in giving some pleasure to people who may not have much.”

And the neighbours have bought in. 'I have encouraged them to put lights up. I have even given them some.” Highlander Place could become another Franklin Rd – Auckland's central city street laden with Christmas lights. And let's not forget Shane's gift to the city also adds another $120 to his electricity bill.

Down the road the Welcome Bay Vet Clinic is looking like Times Square.

'I started making the lights 15 years ago,” says vet John Ross. 'My displays didn't start well. But systems have improved. And I have a dog cocking its leg and having a piddle.”

Now there is a public expectation. The pressure is on John to continue and develop his Christmas lights display. 'My daughter played an angel and my son played Santa and they would give out toffees to passersby. Now we are giving out marshmallows to the old folk who stop by in the retirement village vans.”

It's an added stress at a stressful time of year. But the vet enjoys it. And so do the hundreds who stop by.