Santa feels heat as parade celebrates its 80th year

Who would have thought - Santa Claus has a day job doing admin at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.

As he has done every year for the last 15 years, John Robertson pulled on his full Santa suit, hat and beard and climbed aboard his sleigh to parade through the streets of Auckland yesterday in front of thousands of children and families.

A giant Superman glides down Queen St as one of nearly 200 colourful floats that took part in this year's event. Photo / Greg Bowker

The mercury pushed into the mid-20s during yesterday's Santa Parade - now in its 80th year - and the man himself was feeling the heat as he waited for his float's turn to join the procession. "There's no breeze at all so it's getting warm in here," he said.

"She's going to be a long day but I've got five or six bottles of water to keep me going."

Two little fans of Santa enjoy the fabulous weather and fun occasion. Photo / Greg Bowker

Mr Robertson landed the gig by chance when he was a clown in the parade 15 years ago. Santa got sick part-way through, so he was asked to fill in at the last minute. "I loved it and I still do. I just love the looks on the kids' faces."

Mr Robertson does accounting and secretarial work at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce - "a bit of a contrast, you could say".

Aotearoa Friendly Islands Brass Band was one of the many musical acts to march the 2.2km route through the central city. "Sometimes I've just got to stop blowing and only march," said sousaphone player Pasili Niuafe, the large instrument weighing heavily on his shoulders.

There was enthusiastic applause for Emirates Team New Zealand and skipper Dean Barker, who were dubbed the "Grand Marshals" as they led the parade. The team's manager, Grant Dalton, is overseas so could not be with the team yesterday.

Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker and his wife Mandy acknowledge the large crowd. Photo / Greg Bowker

But the biggest cheers were, of course, reserved for Santa.

St John Ambulance said no incidents relating to the heat had been reported.