Today the Rotorua Santa or Christmas Parade is a highlight of the festive season calendar leading up to Christmas. Originally the parade was held as part of a summer carnival in the New Year.
According to historian Don Stafford, a committee was formed in 1902 to plan a week long summer carnival to be held in 1903 to attraction tourists to the region. The event was held in late February 1903.
Unfortunately not many records remain of the early parades.
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| New Year Parade - Arawa Street, 1920, photographer unknown, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2010.100.1254) |
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| Government Tourist Bureau Decorated Float, 1937, photographer unknown, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2010.100.1254) |
The Carnival later grew to become the Christmas and New Year Carnival. The parade became the New Year's Eve Street Parade and was traditionally held in the afternoon of New Year's Eve. In the 1950s and 1960s a second parade was also held in the evening.
The programme also often included a Children's Fancy Dress Parade, which was held in the morning.
The New Year's Eve Parade was held for the last time on December 31, 1980, to end the year of the Centennial celebrations.
In 1981 the parade was held on December 19th and became the Santa or Christmas Parade that we know today.
Enjoy some memories of past New Year's Eve Parades. Thank you to the Rotorua Museum, Daily Post, and Don Stafford Collection for photos and information. This post was written by Graeme.
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| New Year Parade, 1957, photograph by Robert Crocker, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2016.50.2) |
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| New Year Parade, 1953, photograph unknown, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2010.100.1254) |
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| Clown Float, Christmas/New Year Parade Rotorua, 1965, photograph by Gil Couper, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2020.21.85) |
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| New Year Parade, 1953, photograph supplied by Public Relations Office, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (Op-4374) |
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| Centennial New Year Parade, 1980, photograph by Jack Lang, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2020.23.81) |
