With Christmas just around the corner, our favourite Shortland Street stars are in full festive spirit, swapping holiday gossip as they shake the gifts under the tree at our Woman’s Day shoot.
Ferndale stalwart Michael Galvin shares fond memories of growing up in a family of four children in Wellington.
“When I was a kid and Christmas was the most crazy, magical thing, there were lots of presents because there were so many of us,” he smiles.
“I was always worried that the bigger ones were for everyone else and not me. My favourite present to get was a board game because of the size – they look like proper presents!”
Traditions passed down through generations
Like Michael, heavily pregnant actress Rebekah Randell’s love of the holidays began when she was little.
“My family started Christmas prep on Labour Weekend, where we would always bake the old-school, traditional cakes, then every few weeks, we’d brush them with brandy.”
With her daughter Isla now two, Rebekah loves recreating the same traditions, including Santa bringing the same gifts that Rebekah still receives today – “a decoration for the tree and a boxed of scorched almonds”!
Meanwhile, after years in the US, her co-star Fleur Saville is looking forward to celebrating the big day in the heat.
Nothing beats a Kiwi summer Christmas
She says, “I’m stoked to be back in New Zealand for a summer Christmas. There’s nothing like it.”
Of course, no classic Kiwi celebration is complete without a rousing game of backyard sports. For Theo Dāvid and his whānau, that means “knee league”.
He explains, “We get on our knees, split off into teams and just go for it!”
Jane Wills also likes to start her day with a good workout. The Timaru-born star will hike up Mt Iron in Wānaka before tucking into some delicious kai.
A Christmas powered by pavlova
“My biggest indulgence is desserts! There’s nothing better than trifle and pavlova for Boxing Day breakfast.”
As for her co-star Mo Nasir, the actor says his festive superpower is nailing his last- minute Christmas list.
“I only need to go to one shop and can buy eight gifts!” he boasts.
Rebekah Randell
Rebekah is ringing in her favourite time of year in the “most low-key” way as she awaits the arrival of baby number two.
“We’ll be in a new house, which is super-exciting, but we won’t be there on the day,” says the actress, 32, who plays nurse Dawn Robinson and is mum to two-year-old Isla. “We’ll be at Mum and Dad’s on the farm in Whangamatā.
“Ever since we were little, my mum has made Christmas so magical and this is the first year Isla’s got really excited about Santa. Now I’ve got my own children, I get to revel in the magic Mum created and pass it on.”
With her gifts already bought and wrapped, Rebekah is focused on recreating the same rituals started by her parents Maree and Andrew. Before they go to the Coromandel, she’ll head out with hubby Bevan, his radio-star brother Clint, sister-in-law Jaime and Isla’s two cousins to check out the lights and sing carols in Auckland.
“Each year, we go to the Christmas lights at either Franklin Rd or Motat, then carolling at the park,” she smiles.
“I love everything about Christmas!”
Growing up on a dairy farm, the actress has fond memories of her dad being in the milking shed early on 25 December and getting mobbed by kids.
“We’d all wake up super-early, see all the presents under the tree and rush down to the shed, shouting, ‘Hurry up, Dad!’ Now our kids get to do the same, but this time it’s, ‘Hurry up, Poppa!’”
Michael Galvin
Michael, who plays Dr Chris Warner, loves Christmas because of the “vibe in the air”. As soon as December rolls around, he’s putting up not one but two trees in his Auckland home and making his first batch of eggnog with his daughter Lily.
“I go crazy with trees,” he laughs.
“I’ve got an enormous tree that I got when Lily was small. It’s very big and artificial, which is good because we can have the same tree every year.”
But their tradition of buying new decorations has meant they’ve got such a big collection, they now need a second place to hang them all.
“So now I also buy a real tree, a natural one, and I put that by the door so when you come in the house, you can smell it!”
For the 59-year-old Shorty stalwart, festive celebrations are all about special moments with his favourite girl. Along with the eggnog – “which I can put brandy in now because Lily’s old enough” – the pair always have two chocolate advent calendars on the go. And when it comes to the big day itself, it’s all about being with both sides of the family.
“Lily has Christmas Day up here with her mum, whom I’m separated from, and her mum’s family – often I’m invited, which is very nice – then I’ll take Lily to see all my family in Wellington on Boxing Day.”
While things are changing a bit now Lily is 19, in the past, the dynamic father-daughter duo had a tradition of driving Lime scooters around Sky Stadium on Wellington’s waterfront.
“One time, the caretaker recognised me and let us run around the pitch – it was very cool!”
Fleur Saville
If there’s one thing that sums up Fleur ’s Christmas Day, it’s a lazy afternoon sleep – or several!
“I have no plans at all yet, but whatever it is, it will be sunshine, food, a slow day with people I love and sneaking in a few good naps!”
Since returning home last year after a decade living in Los Angeles, the 41-year-old fan favourite, who plays Libby Jeffries, says the season is so much more special.
“A few years ago, we went down to my uncle Malcolm’s place in the mighty Levin. He’s got a glorious boutique organic winery, where the days are always filled with fishing, sunshine and great food from my aunt Deb.”
The last-minute Christmas queen
Fleur says her Christmas super-power is being able to “pull everything together at the last minute”.
That means getting a lamb roast and Yorkshire pudding on the table while wearing a party hat, telling Christmas cracker jokes and handing out gifts.
“I like to give people experiences rather than actual physical things,” grins the star.
“I love giving a surprise holiday away.”
Along with naps, Fleur will also watch “a terrible Christmas movie” and join in some friendly competition with family members.
“We love cards, charades and planking competitions!
Mo Nasir
Having moved to Aotearoa from Pakistan as a kid, Mo didn’t celebrate Christmas for “a really long time”.
But over the past few years, since his brother has had children, his family has started using it as an opportunity to get together and do something special.
“Usually, we have a barbecue or grill some kebabs,” says Mo, 29, who plays Dr Nazar Arshad on the long-running Kiwi soap.
“What I like most about this time of year is the feeling that it brings. It’s very light, pleasant and fun – and that’s how everyone should go into
the new year.”
A bittersweet Christmas ahead
However, when the family catches up this year, it will feel a little different because his beloved bari ami (grandmother) won’t be there, having passed away two months ago.
With whānau top of mind, Mo recalls a beautiful, thoughtful gift given by his brother a few years ago.
“He planned a surprise weekend road trip up north, about 40 minutes out of Auckland,” he shares.
“We set up a tent and camped by the beach. He’s got kids now, so his time is precious – I love that he set two days aside to spend them with me!”
As he counts down to the end of the year, Mo’s looking forward to eating his mum’s “amazing” biryani and celebrating the holidays at the beach.
“Throughout the year, we all have a lot of things that happen, so this time is a good way to leave all that behind and welcome in a new year.
Jane Wills
When she’s not in front of the camera, self-confessed foodie Jane lovesto get creative in the kitchen.
Famous in her family for her “epic” pavlova, the South Island-born star will start the big day with a hike in Wa¯naka, before tucking into some delicious food with her loved ones.
“We’ll fire up the barbecue or take the boat out if it’s a beautiful day,” she says.
It’s also a chance for the 29-year- old actress, who plays polyamorous Dr Phil Grayson, to spend time with her beloved niece Rose.
“Last year, as my brother and his partner were over from Berlin, I found out I was going to be an aunty,” she recalls.
“I didn’t stop crying for hours. Honestly, Rose is the best gift I’ve ever received. Well, I did get a Kenwood mixer, but that comes second!”
It’s Jane’s mum Catherine who first sparked the star’s passion for the holiday season.
“I would turn my house into Santa’s workshop if I could,” she grins.
“You can count on us both having our houses decked out!”
As well as her culinary skills, Jane’s also highly creative, which means she loves a good tablescape.
“This year, I’m planning to have pinecones, Christmas decorations, candles and lots of food on our table!”
In the lead-up to the big day, she’s looking forward to picking out a real Christmas tree and continuing the tradition of screening her favourite festive flick.
“I watch The Holiday every year with my mum!” she grins
Theo Dávid
As soon as Shorty wraps for the year, Theo will be jumping in the car with his partner Amanda White and their two young boys, Jude and Rome, to head to Gisborne to celebrate with Amanda’s whānau.
He’s eagerly anticipating her legendary pudding – “trifles go off!” – and a big roast chicken with gravy and stuffing.
“Our boys are two and one, so they’re at the age where we’re starting to create Christmas traditions,” shares Theo, who plays ambulance officer Viliami To’a.
“Growing up, I knew Santa wasn’t real quite early, but my partner’s been very vocal about it, so we’re trying to keep that alive for my boys.”
Christmas, Samoan style
It only takes one mention of Hana Koko (te reo for Santa) and Theo, 29, jokes that they both start talking about what the jolly fat guy’s bringing.
Raised in a traditional Samoan family, Theo’s childhood Christmases were spent at his grandparents’ house with “maybe 50 to 100 people”.
He remembers, “We’d just have a big feed and catch up with everyone. A lot of people would come from overseas. One person made the same dish every year – my auntie always made the chop suey and if anybody else made it, nobody would eat it!”
Theo’s thankful for the memories of his grandad, who passed away last year.
He says, “I have this image of him every Christmas, sitting in his La-Z-Boy in the lounge, scanning the room and being proud that his babies are running around.”
