Sharing wonders of Christmas

Grahame and Gretchen Benvie believe Christmas is the most special time of the year and they enjoy sharing the wonder of the season through their Christmas lights collection.

The Matua couple have been developing their collection for close to 20 years and have won some best decorated house awards along the way.

"We started with the dairy lights, which are the flashing ones you see across the front of dairies," Mr Benvie said.

Over time the Benvies have added a Santa's sleigh display on their roof and a number of blow-up Christmas characters, such as Father Christmas, Mickey Mouse and a snowman.

The big blow-up characters were bought at Home Depot in America several years ago, Mr Benvie said.
 

"Christmas for both me and my wife has always been special and it's the most special time of the year.

"One of the other reasons we got started was our own children used to enjoy looking at the lights."

Mr Benvie said he enjoyed talking with people who came to look at his Christmas lights display but could not guarantee the lights would be on every night this season, because of other commitments he had.

While not yet listed on the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Lights Trail, Mr Benvie said he was happy for people to come and look at his display - so long as he was home.

He lives at 6 Ranui Street, Matua.