New recruits ready to help Santa

Landscaper Mark Van Kaathoven was working in a garden when he was spotted by a Santa scout.

The long-bearded man was one of six new recruits added to the My Santa roster this year, and was fitted into the finest festive regalia in time for the silly season.

My Santa, a business specialising in the recruitment, training and provision of professional Santas, has about 30 men to fill the Father Christmas role around New Zealand.

Van Kaathoven, 55, was head-hunted by Neville Baker – a well-disguised Santa from Auckland’s annual Queen St Christmas Parade – who was impressed by his Clausworthy whiskers.

‘‘He scouted me down. I was doing my gardening work, and Neville and his wife parked their car two houses down the street and saw my beard,’’ Van Kaathoven said.

‘‘He said: I really like your beard ... I really want you to be one of my Santas.’’

Van Kaathoven did his first Santa event around a retail hub in Auckland a couple of weeks ago.

Beard aside, Van Kaathoven’s fit physique does not make him an obvious Santa. But once fitted with a fake paunch and wig he is convincing.

He was joined by three others at a Santa school fitting and debrief in Auckland at the weekend, including huskier retiree Russel Guy, 66, who started Santa work last year. There was also tattoo artist and former DJ Darren Bass, a slightly larger bloke with a few tattoos, and 68-year-old Alan Shand, of a similar stature.

Guy, a former grounds attendant, was nervous before his first event. But once the kit was on, all inhibition dissipated, he said.

‘‘I was so apprehensive, but I got it there and it just flowed. It’s the best, that’s why I’m doing it again this year,’’ the grandfather said.

‘‘You whack on the suit and you just change into Santa Claus’’

Both Shand and Bass had worked as Santa before, so they were looking forward to hitting the Christmas season.

Baker, the company director, said his roster was filled with students, part-timers, retirees and people who just like to be Mr Claus.

He said the transformation was like ‘‘chalk and cheese’’, which was evident when people took off their garb, and the only real requirement was confidence.

He said six of his Santas had their own beards, like Van Kaathoven, while the rest donned the faux-facial hair.

‘‘But not all guys with a beard make a Santa,’’ Baker said. ‘‘It’s more about the personality of a person. They have to have self-confidence.’’

Nor did they have to be pudgy or of a certain height. If one Santa was skinny, they had bellies to fill them out.

‘‘I’ve got Santas from 20 years old. The oldest guy is 80.’’

The men were rostered for various events around Auckland from the first week of December until Christmas.