A giant Christmas tree has been erected at Auckland's waterfront less than a week after a dramatic helicopter crash stalled the operation.
Pilot Greg Gribble escaped virtually unscathed last Wednesday when his aircraft plummeted to the ground as he was helping to erect the seven-storey tree at the Viaduct Basin.
No one nearby was hurt in what is busy and popular public space.
On Monday, ground crews used a crane to put the tree in place. The lights will be turned on during a ceremony on Friday.
Greg Gribble says he is still in shock following the accident.
"I guess you keep reliving the whole thing over and over in your brain and every time you close your eyes, you can see it happening all again. It's going to take a while probably to put it completely out of my mind."
Mr Gribble is waiting on results of a Civil Aviation Authority investigation before he will talk about what caused the crash.
