‘EVERYONE IS IN SHORTS AND SWIMWEAR’
Lisa Leport-Symonds, 46, emigrated to New Zealand from the UK 15 years ago with husband Phill. They live in Whanganui with Elise, 12, and Lola, 10. Elder daughter Nadine, 23, has moved back to the UK to study.
An Antipodean Christmas is all about being outdoors – and it occurs in the middle of our summer holidays. Kids finish school in the first week of December and don’t go back until February. And because we’re a country of small businesses, many bosses shut down for a month. Although we occasionally come back to the UK to visit relatives, New Zealand is home, so we celebrate Christmas Kiwi-style. We maintain British traditions like the Christmas tree, and we hang stockings
