Some 550 Defence Force personnel are spending Christmas Day scattered across nine different countries.
New Zealand troops are deployed on 14 peacekeeping operations, UN missions and defence exercises.
It means they are performing a massive variety of tasks, including helping with research, reconstruction projects and security patrols.
At Scott Base, Christmas is being celebrated a day early as everyone, including the cooks, have Christmas Day off.
The site is managed by Antarctica New Zealand, which calls on the Defence Force for support over the summer season. But summer it's not quite, personnel are being treated to a white Christmas - it's a balmy -6 degrees with a wind chill factor of -20.
Communications Operator Sam Shepherd says that they had their traditional seasonal feast on Thursday night.
He says afterward there was a secret Santa and although there is a shop at the base, he says most people opted to make their gifts.
Amongst the loot was a patchwork cushion which showed the lay of the land and a metal sculpture of one of the guys on a quad bike.
Anzac spirit in Timor-Leste
The Anzac spirit is helping New Zealand troops in Timor-Leste mark Christmas Day.
Just under 200 Defence Force personnel are in East Timor.
Company Sergeant Major Richard Theodore says a big day is planned, starting with a sports tournament with Australian troops in Dili.
They will then return to their base for a Christmas dinner and social gathering with the Australians.
Theodore says the troops have been receiving a lot of contact and support from families at home, which really helps boost morale.
