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| Jacinda Ardern takes part in New Zealand's nationwide Secret Santa | Jacinda Ardern takes part in New Zealand's nationwide Secret Santa |
| (30 days later) | |
| Prime minister received a homemade Christmas tree ornament and painting and sent a book and some body cream to one lucky recipient | |
| Guardian staff | |
| Wed 20 Dec 2017 02.13 GMT | |
| Last modified on Wed 20 Dec 2017 17.19 GMT | |
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| New Zealand’s prime minister has taken part in the country’s nationwide Secret Santa. | New Zealand’s prime minister has taken part in the country’s nationwide Secret Santa. |
| New Zealand Post has been running the scheme, in which complete strangers send each other gifts in the post, for the past seven years. | New Zealand Post has been running the scheme, in which complete strangers send each other gifts in the post, for the past seven years. |
| Each festive season New Zealanders send and receive gifts, sharing pictures of the results on social media using the hashtag #NZsecretsanta. This year is the first time the nation’s leader has taken part – recently elected Ardern said that being a “ridiculous lover of Christmas” she couldn’t resist. | Each festive season New Zealanders send and receive gifts, sharing pictures of the results on social media using the hashtag #NZsecretsanta. This year is the first time the nation’s leader has taken part – recently elected Ardern said that being a “ridiculous lover of Christmas” she couldn’t resist. |
| On Tuesday, Ardern posted a video on Twitter showing her opening the gift she had received – a homemade Christmas tree decoration. The gift from her allotted anonymous giver was delayed, so she said a “Super Secret Santa stepped up” to send her a present. | On Tuesday, Ardern posted a video on Twitter showing her opening the gift she had received – a homemade Christmas tree decoration. The gift from her allotted anonymous giver was delayed, so she said a “Super Secret Santa stepped up” to send her a present. |
| 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 | 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 |
| The gift originally meant for Ardern arrived on Wednesday, leaving the prime minister with two presents. Ardern posted a second video showing her opening an artwork by an Auckland school student. | The gift originally meant for Ardern arrived on Wednesday, leaving the prime minister with two presents. Ardern posted a second video showing her opening an artwork by an Auckland school student. |
| On the same day, the gift sent by Ardern reached its destination, with the recipient Rebecca Terry posting a thank you on Twitter. As well as a book and some body cream, the gift included an Apec pin and a card that gave away the identity of the sender. | On the same day, the gift sent by Ardern reached its destination, with the recipient Rebecca Terry posting a thank you on Twitter. As well as a book and some body cream, the gift included an Apec pin and a card that gave away the identity of the sender. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Oh and here's the lovely card ❤ pic.twitter.com/wqbmFvVSPf | Oh and here's the lovely card ❤ pic.twitter.com/wqbmFvVSPf |
| Ardern replied saying she was glad the present, “from your not very Secret Santa”, had made it. | Ardern replied saying she was glad the present, “from your not very Secret Santa”, had made it. |
| Other participants also shared the joy on Twitter. | Other participants also shared the joy on Twitter. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Whoever you are, #nzsecretsanta, you get me. Thank you, and I hope you have a good one. pic.twitter.com/qTDmN6ruU9 | Whoever you are, #nzsecretsanta, you get me. Thank you, and I hope you have a good one. pic.twitter.com/qTDmN6ruU9 |
| The game was started in 2010 by Hamilton man Sam Elton-Walters, who matched strangers on Twitter to send Secret Santa gifts to each other in time for Christmas. Participants would drop hints of their interests and hobbies via tweets – or, more directly, write lists of gifts they would like to receive. | The game was started in 2010 by Hamilton man Sam Elton-Walters, who matched strangers on Twitter to send Secret Santa gifts to each other in time for Christmas. Participants would drop hints of their interests and hobbies via tweets – or, more directly, write lists of gifts they would like to receive. |
| When the endeavour became too big for Elton-Walters to manage, he handed the torch in 2013 to New Zealand Post which assigned a team of 10 “elves” to run it. | When the endeavour became too big for Elton-Walters to manage, he handed the torch in 2013 to New Zealand Post which assigned a team of 10 “elves” to run it. |
| In 2017 New Zealand Post said more than 3,600 people had taken part. In 2016, 8% of those involved were “Bad Santas” – participants who registered to receive gifts, but failed to send any. | In 2017 New Zealand Post said more than 3,600 people had taken part. In 2016, 8% of those involved were “Bad Santas” – participants who registered to receive gifts, but failed to send any. |
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