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The annual Ōrewa Beach Santa Parade promises to deliver its seasonal dose of Christmas spirit, but business association Destination Ōrewa Beach, which organises the parade, is stressing the importance of an element, first introduced last year, that aims to keep everyone safe.
Destination Ōrewa Beach manager Hellen Wilkins says last year there were key areas where the red line that was painted on the road by the kerb edge, designed to stop onlookers from stepping out onto the road as the parade passes by, was ignored.
However she says the restriction worked well for 80 percent of the route.
This year the line will be painted purple, to meet Auckland Transport’s requirements – this is the same colour as the one at the Auckland Santa Parade.
The purple line will provide a clear boundary between spectators and the parade. Onlookers are encouraged to stay behind this ‘Santa Line’, so they remain separated from floats and vehicles.
Wilkins says more than 40 marshals will also be stationed along the route as part of a comprehensive health and safety plan and spectators are asked to follow their instructions.
“The parade is all about bringing the community together and kicking off the Christmas season, and we want everyone to enjoy it safely,” Wilkins says.
She says one of the recurring issues is adults stepping onto the road to get a better view of an approaching float.
“Children naturally follow the example of the adults around them, and what may seem like a harmless step onto the road can quickly result in children also moving into an area where floats and vehicles are travelling.
“We are asking parents and caregivers in particular to lead by example – please stay behind the ‘Santa Line’ and follow the instructions of our marshals. It makes their job easier and, most importantly, helps keep everyone safe.”
Wilkins says while no one has been hurt stepping onto the road during the parade to date, every person on the road is a risk.
“People stepping forward to take photos is a big issue as everyone behind them then also steps out, so their view is not blocked.”
She says this now needs multiple levels of risk management to reign in – “after all, someone’s perceived simple action could result in us being dragged through a WorkSafe investigation if there’s an injury and the future of the event could be put at risk.”
The organising team is also asking parents who are collecting children from floats at the end of the parade to follow the carpark marshal’s instructions and wait on the grass instead of the car park, as this worsens an already congested area and upsets the flow of vehicles as the area transitions back to normal road use.
