This Christmas Eve, Dunedin residents will be pouring a glass of milk, putting out biscuits on a plate, sitting down next to their fake tree and hoping for money in the morning, if a Colmar Brunton survey is anything to go by.
More than 500 New Zealanders were quizzed about the forthcoming holiday and Dunedin people were found to be the most generous with gifts for Santa.
When the man in red visits Southern homes next week, 43% will have put out milk and biscuits for him, or if he is lucky, a beer.
And no wonder, when 34% of Dunedin people over the age of 18 reportedly believe in Santa.
Nationally, one in five people say they want to believe in him, but most stopped when they were aged between 6 and 10.
Colmar Brunton managing director Jacqueline Ireland said it was "wonderful" to see the "magic of Christmas and traditions we all remember from our childhood are still alive and well".
However, when it comes to presents, what we all really want is cash.
Of those interviewed, 44% wanted money for Christmas compared with 12% who wanted to receive home-made gifts.
Most people (54%) also preferred the ease of a fake Christmas tree compared with the 22% who bought a real one and the 24% who would not bother.
