Wairakei Kindergarten’s float at the 2024 Pak'nSave Pāpāmoa Superhero Santa Parade featured all sorts of superheroes. Photo / Supplied
Superheroes flooded into Pāpāmoa on Sunday morning for the Pak’nSave Pāpāmoa Superhero Santa Parade.
Pāpāmoa Unlimited events and marketing manager Julia Manktelow said there had been more than superheroes in the parade, from Batman and Superman to the pups from Paw Patrol.
“We were flooded with superheroes.
“It was incredible. It was a great vibe.”
Manktelow, dressed as Bat Girl, was assisted by Jodie Kendall, dressed as Wonder Woman, and her daughter Amaleigh Manktelow dressed as Super Girl.
“We had 35 floats this year,” Manktelow said. “And it’s the best calibre of floats we’ve ever had.”
In the 2020 Toyland-themed parade there were 48 floats, with numbers dropping to 30 in 2022.
Police led the way in theparade with Santa bringing up the rear in the Guardian of the Galaxy sleigh, with the solar system mounted around him.
Businesses, kindergartens, sports groups, bands, emergency services and religious communities were involved in the parade.
“There was such a cool vibe amongst the crowd. All were very happy.”
The parade kicked off at 10.30am from Dickson Rd at Alexander Place following a route along Dickson Rd to Domain Rd before finishing at Pāpāmoa Plaza around 12.30pm. There, Santa continued to meet children in the plaza’s magical grotto.
Manktelow said the best overall float award went to Maungatapu Kindergarten, which also won it the last two years.
“Maungatapu Kindergarten are just bringing it every year, and this year they lifted their game.”
The judges were Pāpāmoa Unlimited chairwoman Leah Sutton, Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford, and Pāpāmoa Pak’nSave’s head of HR Ian Parata.
The best educational float went to Wairakei Kindergarten, best commercial float went to Mount Tyres with their Gotham City float from Batman, and best not-for-profit float went to Current Church.
Mount Tyres has won Best Commercial Float for their fairytale float in 2023, and in 2022 for their van topped with balloons and a large Christmas tree made from a stack of painted tyres carried on the back of their ute.
Current Church
returned with a nativity scene - and carried live sheep on their float. They have now won best not-for-profit float six times: on Sunday and in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
New groups participated in Sunday’s parade, and not all came from around the Tauranga area.
“The Latin Association were new to the parade this year. The Hare Krishnas who are dressed so colourfully came down from Auckland. And the Falun Dafa came from all over the country. We also had Life Education and local businesses.”
Police, Coastguard, brigades from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and the local community patrol were always crowd favourites.
“They are our local heroes,” Manktelow said.
“Merry Christmas to everyone from Pāpāmoa and we look forward to bringing more smiles next year.”
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