Merry Christmas SunLive readers.

SunLive got in contact with Bay of Plenty leaders to wish our readers a wonderful Christmas and find out what their plans are for Christmas Day.

Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell is heading to his bach at Lake Rotoiti while Tauranga Member for Parliament Simon Bridges is spending it in Tauranga with his wife Natalie and their three children.

Western Bay of Plenty district mayor Garry Webber has his daughter and son in law coming up from Christchurch.

'So we'll spend the day with them and just try and do the typical New Zealand barbeque type thing for Christmas day.

'I think that's one of the things that at Christmas time you need to think about. Those that are going through difficult time, those that are disadvantaged compared to yourself, and think of them.

'Think of what you can do for others. It's not about the presents at the bottom of the tree, it's more about what we can do for each other, and what we can do for our communities.

'Hopefully you have a safe, good Christmas and really enjoy it with your friends and family,” says Garry.

Tenby wants to see even more vibrancy down on the waterfront and is enjoying the atmosphere there that the warm weather brings.

'I'm looking forward to working with you all in 2020 to create the city that we know Tauranga is going to be in the meantime have a safe and Merry Christmas.”

Simon has been set the challenge by his sons Emlyn and Harry to make a merry berry chocolate log, which he says is his most stressful task prior to Christmas.

'It's been a big year, there's a huge amount happened both in the Bay and New Zealand and of course there's a lot coming up next year as well, for me an election which is always very exciting.

'We've got a great Christmas here in Tauranga lined up for Christmas day with some friends.

'We'll be here for a few days, then we're actually going for a cruise around the Pacific out of Sydney to get away from it all so really looking forward to that.

'I'd just like to wish all of SunLive readers all over the bay of plenty a fantastic Christmas and New Year.

'I hope that it's sunny, that it's safe and that you have a lot of fun with your friends and your families.”