Christmas parades can been seen in various cities and towns throughout NZ in November or December in celebration of the festive season. Let's take a trip down memory lane with Santa, decorative floats, marching bands, dancers, and other costumed performers!
Santa's transport in Christmas parades over the years
Upper Hutt, 1999
Upper Hutt City Library
Christchurch, 1930: T. Armstrong & Co's Christmas float outside their High Street store
T. Armstrong & Co's Christmas float outside their High Street store
Christchurch City Libraries
Auckland, 1937: Santa arrives by parachuting from a plane
Parachuting Santa crashes in Auckland
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Wellington, 1959
James Smith's Christmas Parade with Father Christmas and a young girl elf on a sleigh, Wellington Region
Alexander Turnbull Library
Wellington, c. 1960s: Santa sitting in a space rocket with clowns pulling the float
The Santa Float
Alexander Turnbull Library
![Image: [Christmas float, Timaru]](https://thumbnailer.digitalnz.org/?resize=770x&src=https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fpastperfectonline%2Fimages%2Fmuseum_58%2F110%2Fl2012007047.jpg&resize=368%253E "[Christmas float, Timaru]")
Upper Hutt, 1992: Antique fire engine
Christmas parade 1992; Father Christmas.
Upper Hutt City Library
Upper Hutt, 1993
Christmas parade 1993; Santa and Silver Stream Railway's 1877 L-class locomotive.
Upper Hutt City Library
Stoke Valley, 1995
Christmas parade; Stokes Valley 1995; Santa and fire engine.
Upper Hutt City Library
Upper Hutt, 1995
Christmas parade 1995; Santa passing the rear of the Mall, Queen Street.
Upper Hutt City Library
Upper Hutt, 2003
Christmas parade 2003; snow princess Anna, Santa, fairy Piper.
Upper Hutt City Library
Decorative floats
Auckland's Farmer's Santa Parade first held in 1934
Auckland Libraries
Christchurch's Hay's Christmas Parade first began in c.1947/48
Hay's Christmas Parade float
Christchurch City Libraries
Wellington's James Smith's Christmas parade was popular from 1950s onwards
James Smith's Christmas Parade, 'Hot Pies' float with a large puppet cook and three men dressed as clowns, Wellington Region
Alexander Turnbull Library
Farmers Santa Parade, 1966
Auckland Libraries
Dancers on a float, Manurewa, 1993.
Auckland Libraries
2007 Santa Parade
Christchurch City Libraries
Santa Parade 2007
Christchurch City Libraries
2009 Christchurch Santa Parade
Christchurch City Libraries
2009 Christchurch Santa Parade
Christchurch City Libraries
2009 Christchurch Santa Parade
Christchurch City Libraries
Children in nativity costumes at the Christmas Parade 2016
Palmerston North City Library
Mary and Joseph
Christchurch City Libraries
Sugra the Juggler
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Xmas Parade 2007 - Clown
Kete Horowhenua
New Brighton Christmas parade 2003
Christchurch City Libraries
Angels
Kete Horowhenua
Levin Scooter Group
Kete Horowhenua
New Brighton Santa Parade
Christchurch City Libraries
Brass Band
Kete Horowhenua
Canterbury Accordian Association
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Farmers Santa Parade, Queen Street, 1972
Auckland Libraries
New Brighton Christmas Parade
Christchurch City Libraries
The crowds
Once upon a time, Farmer's Santa & his reindeers overlooked Auckland's Christmas Parade
Auckland Libraries
Father Christmas at Farmers, 1962
Auckland Libraries
Santa at Farmers, 1963?
Auckland Libraries
Farmers Santa Parade, 1963
Auckland Libraries
Wellington, 1959
James Smith's Christmas Parade with Father Christmas sleigh float surrounded by a crowd, Wellington Region
Alexander Turnbull Library
Wellington, c.1960s
James Smith Christmas Parade; float passing down Kent or Cambridge Terrace, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Find out more:
'Santa parades', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/interactive/santa-parades, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 4-Feb-2021
'Christmas parades in Christchurch', URL: https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/christmas-parades-in-christchurch/ (Christchurch City Libraries)
This DigitalNZ story was updated in Dec 2024