T'was the week before Christmas...! Disillusioned with the materialism of the season, Santa throws in his job and goes as far from the North Pole as possible--New Zealand!

When his reindeerless-sleigh crashes and sinks in the waters off an idyllic holiday beach, he is found washed up by 8-year-old Sam and his 12-year-old sister Molly and their newly separated parents.

The family discovers who Santa really is and must unite to rescue him from the local Coast-watch who have set out to capture him. The children must then convince him to return to the North Pole in time for Christmas Eve.