Saving Santa

Since 1918, children in the Palmerston North area have looked forward to visiting the Santa Cave. The tradition started at the Collinson and Cunningham department store. When that store was sold to Farmers, they carried on the tinsel-laced display of what goes on at the North Pole. But earlier this year, Farmers moved to a new location and dismantled the cave and its treasures. Te Manawa Museum has taken over the beloved treasures that have captivated generations of Manawatu families, including a clockwork Santa that dates back to 1935.