Auckland Council cracks down on Christmas

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Lolly scramble ban at Christmas Parade

3News NZ

Santa won't be able to throw lollies from his sleigh at Auckland Christmas parades and reindeer droppings pose a danger to gymnasts

Santa won't be able to throw lollies from his sleigh at Auckland Christmas parades and reindeer droppings pose a danger to gymnasts

By 3 News online staff

The Auckland Council is cracking down on Christmas Parades, enforcing rules that ban lolly scrambles and water pistols.

The health and safety rules also mean kids under the age of five cannot ride on floats and gymnasts cannot do cartwheels in areas where animals may have left droppings.

The Council's events manager David Burt says the lolly scramble ban aims to stop kids running in front of moving floats to pick up lollies.

He says a speed restriction on the floats is not enough to reduce the risk of children being run over when they pick up sweets.

Mr Burt says “clowns and pixies” will still walk alongside the floats and hand out lollies to the kids but if they want a a lolly scramble, the floats must stop.

Not everyone is supportive of the stricter rules.

Dale Wallace, who organises the Kumeu Santa Parade, says kids are the heart of the parade - both as participants and spectators.

She says lolly scrambles are the highlight for many kids and now her clowns have to be careful just handing them out.

The age-restriction on the floats has also distressed Ms Wallace, who says it will have implications on the nativity scene float – especially the role of baby Jesus.

3 News

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Comments

12/12/2012 10:54:41 a.m.

Sophie wrote:

This is just Sad.

13/11/2012 1:24:33 p.m.

alyson wrote:

I with Grant, lets just ban children from Auckland that way there would be no problem.
How pathetic pull your head in ACC

15/09/2012 12:11:17 p.m.

Grant wrote:

Isn't it better just to ban children from the super prison. Auckland would be much safer for everyone if children were banned.

14/09/2012 12:57:40 a.m.

Fernando wrote:

This is outrageous! I'm definitively going to call for a referendum to emancipate Rodney from the infamous so called super-city! It's nanny state on steroids. If there's anything they should ban or put a limit on, is printed advertising. After each parade there are tons, and tons of printed flyers all over. It's disgusting... the collectors even take un-oppened boxes of flyers and throw them into the garbage trucks. I complained once about that, I even sent them pictures... and their response was that they didn't want to upset the main sponsor by limiting their printed advertising. I guess we should make a campaign and ask people not to attend until the organizers and council start to act like grown-ups.

13/09/2012 8:47:11 p.m.

coral lester wrote:

We need to remind ourselves that these new restrictions are in place for the safety of our children. We should be seen to practice what we preach in society, by promoting good role modeling and safety awareness. The lolly scramble can still happen, just have to consider other ways to distribute them. I am sure baby Jesus could be presented in some other way as well. Safety is a number one factor in our ece centres and schools, so why cant it be practiced in a children's christmas parade. I am gob smacked that people are anti the new restrictions. Why wait for an accident to happen.

13/09/2012 7:43:36 p.m.

graham baker wrote:

the council have gone bonkers they should stick to looking after our footpaths etc; instead of trying to ruin our childrens Santa Parades.This is getting to P.C. Maybe David Burt and his cronies should attend one and see children enjoying themselves under parental guidance.I think he is a absolute DOPE.This council is like a dictatorship they have just lost our family future votes

13/09/2012 4:58:42 p.m.

katrina wrote:

How many children have been run over scrambling for lollies? I would like to see a $1000,000.00 report commissioned over the next two years into this, a enquiry board set up to evaluate the report and then I would like to see the council pull their heads out of their ar...s.

13/09/2012 2:31:37 p.m.

KOOROC wrote:

Sounds like he's on a plan. Next step is to ban people from the streets and have everybody watch it on tv. (Council will send a little bag of sweets with your next rates bill)

13/09/2012 2:08:56 p.m.

Wiseacre wrote:

What?! Lolly handouts for the kids! That's outrageous! Hardworking taxpayers don't get lollies! That's just setting these kids up for a lifetime of bludging off the state! We need to teach these children some responsibility! If they want lollies, they should go and get a job! Perhaps cleaning chimneys to make way for Santa! - *pulls tongue out of cheek* - I thought children were the whole point of the parade. While I can appreciate the need for safety, surely there are better ways to manage this than just outright bans.

13/09/2012 1:06:23 p.m.

Ruz wrote:

david Burt is a dope. If the risk is that kids might run out in front of slow moving vehicles, just make a rule that all vehciles stop during a lolly scramble. Simple