UK's Royal Mail mocked for saying New Zealanders put kiwi on the Christmas tree

The United Kingdom's postal service has been mocked on Twitter after it suggested New Zealand Christmas trees are topped with kiwi.

"In New Zealand the kiwi is often used at the top of the tree in place of a traditional star or angel," the Royal Mail posted on Twitter on Friday (NZ time).

Replies to the tweet ranged from polite to incredulous, as New Zealanders pointed out the mistake.

"Your Kiwi intern is pulling your leg," wrote user @Fitz_Bunny.

"No it isn't. I mean, the poor buggers are flightless. They'd probably shit themselves in terror if they were stuck up there," said singer Lizzie Marvelly.

Auckland Councillor Richard Hills simply posted an animated gif from the movie Elf, where the main character Buddy tells a fake Santa: "You sit on a throne of lies."

Some users chose to make fun of the joke and sarcastically suggest other kiwi-based traditions in New Zealand.

"Actually the reason kiwis are a threatened species is due to the traditional kiwi Christmas bbq. On top of our trees is usually an orange road cone," said @ParryKylie.

"Not true unfortunately! Perhaps you're thinking of the traditional NZ Boxing Day Kiwi Hunt?" wrote website The Spinoff.

Meanwhile other Kiwis chose to share their own non-traditional tree toppers, of which a surprising amount were science fiction characters.

"Nope... But ours features Naked Santa and Lt Cmdr Data on top!" wrote Star Trek fan @BenJavert.

"This year we have a Weeping Angel topper, on a Doctor Who tree in honour of the 13th Doctor," said @ComicBookGal.

Newshub.