The food, the fun, the festivities – there’s nothing about the silly season that Jason Gunn does not love.
Taking to the props the Weekly’s stylist has brought along to our photoshoot with kid-on-Christmas-morning levels of excitement, the Kiwi TV and radio legend – and this year’s host of Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park – couldn’t be more excited about the holidays.
But as a child of the festive season – his birthday falls on Boxing Day – Jason (47) does offer a thought for all those born around Christmas.
“Obviously, Jesus was one hell of a guy,” he begins, laughing. “I don’t want to undermine the things he did – I mean, I’ve had some highlights in my career, but he’s probably achieved greater things. But I will not, will not, have the old ‘Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday!’ in one present. Lest we forget those with birthdays around this time of the year!”
Now that subtle reminder to his nearest and dearest is out of the way – he’d also like a drone, for anyone that happens to be reading – Jason says he was absolutely fizzing to host the great Kiwi Christmas party, now in its 23rd year.
“Dare I say it, we need things like this. We get so many Christmas specials from overseas, it’s nice to be able to go, ‘Hey, New Zealand. How are you doing?’
It’s been a hell of a year for so many Kiwis and I think a lot of us are going to do this Christmas tough. We need to stop and think about that. I think a lot of people will just be grateful for a roof over their heads. It’s another year where Kiwis need to be grateful for who we are, what we’ve got and where we live.”
Christmas has always been a favourite time of year for Jason and his family – wife Janine and kids Eve (26), Grace (21), Faith (18) and Louis (13) – who celebrate together at the family home in Christchurch.
“We’ve always had a special Christmas Eve tradition – we go and drop a box of goodies at the City Mission, and then we visit the cathedral and light a candle for my father and Janine’s dad,” says Jason.
“And then we head out to dinner together. I love those little traditions you have at Christmas. And I think we’ll be having a big gathering at our house this year.”
Of course, Jason’s generally excitable personality lends itself to celebrating the festive season rather well, and while he knows that can grate on some people, he’d much rather be considered jolly than jaded.
“I always try and see the lighter side of life. It irritates some people but I was never put on this earth to be vanilla,” he shrugs. “I was always going to be a colourful sort and I guess it comes out a lot at Christmas.
I’m a great believer that life is too short and I don’t understand grumpy, moody, nasty people. I just want to go up to them and say, ‘Do you need a hug? I know a good self-help book!’”
It makes sense then that his favourite part of the holiday is right now – the time leading up to the big day.
“Everyone gets so excited. But we must be careful not to get too caught up in the stress and rush, and the road rage, my God! This is the time where everyone’s still getting along. Actually, that’s what I really want this year – no stress or rushing. We rush around for the rest of the year. Will it matter if we boil the potatoes dry? Hell, no. It doesn’t! I want that and heaps of laughs with my kids – without that sounding too cheesy.”
But on reflection, Jason admits he does have one slightly strange wish – that Christmas mince pies were made with actual mince.
“I want festive savouries, basically,” he nods. “I think it’s quite a cheek to call them mince pies when there’s no mince. I’m a massive tomato sauce lover.
“I should’ve put them on the Christmas in the Park backstage supplies list, darn it!”
Click through for more festive photos with Jason Gunn