Santa Claus will be returning to Auckland streets this year, but even the big jolly man is feeling the financial squeeze.
By Torika Tokalau for Local Democracy Reporting
Santa or Christmas parades take place throughout New Zealand in November and December with festive floats and Santa Claus getting people into the holiday spirit.
The festive events are supported by Auckland Council local boards, although most of the funding comes from businesses and donations.
In Auckland, there will more than 30 Christmas parades, markets and festivals planned this year, from Waiheke Island to Helensville and Pukekohe.
Howick Santa Parade organisers say they’re happy to be back this year, but the future of the event is in limbo.
Committee member Candice Baker said they were operating on a decreased budget this year, and volunteer interest has been slow.
"The last two, three years we get a lot of our support from local businesses and I think they’re having a tougher time so they don’t have the cash to donate as much as they’d want," Baker said.
She said fundraising events to raise money for the parade were not a huge success, but they were determined to bring the parade back this year.
The Howick Santa Parade will be on December 13, with free entertainment from 11am before the main event at 1.30pm.
"We’ve had to try and optimise our costs, and be smarter about things. There’s a few things that we would have liked to have included this year but we’ve had to drop out ... a few extra bouncy castles and some activities."
Organisers of the Onehunga event, which kicks off the region’s festive calendar with their Santa parade next week, say they came close to cancelling it last year.
"We just didn’t have the funding," Victoria Puxty, manager of the Onehunga Business Association said.
"But, we managed to do it; it was pretty much 100% voluntary."
Despite the challenges, last year’s Santa parade was Onehunga’s biggest, she said.
"The only thing we had to pay for was some koha for the band but everybody just showed up on the day.
"And that’s the reason why we do it because through trying times when people are counting or keeping their money in their back pocket, you see the humanity and the spirit of Christmas come out and people show up and do it for the love of it."
Puxty said this year’s event was sponsored by the Onehunga Business Association and a range other businesses, and would feature about 40 floats, including cars from the Waikaraka Speedway.
"It’s really to promote Onehunga as a place to come and do business, and also do some retail shopping. It’s also a way that we can appreciate and thank our community."
In Helensville, the Christmas parade makes a return to the main street on Commercial Rd after years at the showgrounds.
Lone organiser Shane Wilson said he started preparing in February and was proud of the handful of businesses that rallied together to support the event.
"It’s funded 100% by local businesses, no council or local board funding at all," Wilson said.
"It hasn’t been easy for various reasons but we’re on track. We’ve got sponsorship with the help of a couple of local businesses in the area, we’ve a record number of floats for Helensville ... we’re up to 43 now."
Auckland Council governance and engagement general manager Lou-Ann Ballantyne said funding from local boards has helped keep the tradition of Santa parades alive in the region.
This year, local boards across the region are supporting more than 30 Christmas parades, festivals, markets and carnivals with more than $400,000 of funding.
"Local boards across Auckland continue to celebrate the special time of year that is Christmas, by allocating agreed funding to Christmas-themed events in their local areas," Ballantyne said.
"This enables free community events to occur across Tāmaki Makaurau, adding to the spirit of the festive season. These events also reflect the communities and businesses behind them, and provide great excitement and memories for Aucklanders of all ages."
Local Democracy Reporting gathered details on holiday parades, markets and festivals throughout the Auckland area. Here’s when and where you can catch them this year:
Central
Onehunga Santa Parade - Nov 21
Onehunga Christmas in the Park - Nov 27
Farmers Santa Parade - Nov 29
Franklin Road Christmas Lights - Dec 1 to 24
Puketāpapa Carols at the Kings - Dec 6
Ōrākei Carols on the Green - Dec 13
South
Papakura Christmas Festival and Santa Parade - Nov 22
Papakura Carols in the Park - Nov 27
Pukekohe Counties Energy Christmas on the Green - Nov 29
Manurewa Santa Parade - Nov 30
Papatoetoe Santa Parade - Dec 2
Māngere Market Trust Santa Parade - Dec 4
East
Howick Santa Parade - Dec 13
North
I Love Takapuna Christmas Festival - Nov 21
Kaipātiki Kirihimete Hakari a Hapori - Nov 28
Ōrewa New World Santa Parade - Nov 28
Mairangi Bay Christmas Carnival - Nov 28
Browns Bay Christmas Parade and Market - Dec 5
Warkworth Santa Parade - Dec 5
Devonport Christmas / Santa Parade - Dec 5 to 6
Torbay Santa Day and Party - Dec 12
Birkenhead Village Santa Parade - Dec 13
Carols at Little Shoal Bay - Dec 20
West
Glen Eden Christmas Festival - Nov 21
Helensville Christmas Parade - Nov 27
Avondale Kirihimete Market - Nov 28
Kumeū Christmas Parade - Dec 4
Te Atatu Peninsula Christmas Parade and Fun Day - Dec 5
Whau Twilight Christmas in the Bay - Dec 5
Henderson Christmas Festival - Dec 6
New Lynn Christmas Event - Dec 19
Waiheke
Waiheke Heart of Christmas Celebration - Dec 3 to 6
- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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