GREEN ISLAND PARADE STALLED 40 MINUTES AFTER ATTENDEE ARRIVES WITH GOAT FOR "ATMOSPHERE"
The goat had no permit, no lead long enough, and no interest in the brass band.
A community parade through Green Island was delayed by approximately forty minutes on Saturday morning after a member of the public arrived at the muster point with a live goat, which he described to organisers as being present "for atmosphere".
The goat, a brown-and-white nanny of indeterminate breed, was not listed on the parade manifest submitted to the Dunedin City Council, nor was it covered under the event's public liability arrangements (ref: PLI-2024-DN-0418). The owner, a Mr Halloran of Abbotsford, told this reporter the goat "always comes to things" and was "good as gold", a claim not supported by the available evidence.
Margaret Beecham, 71, who had positioned herself on Main South Road at 9.15am to watch her grandson's kapa haka group, said the delay was "a bit much". "I brought a thermos. The thermos is now empty. The goat is still there. You do the maths."
Parade marshals attempted to relocate the animal to a verge behind the Mitre 10, however the goat reportedly ate part of a sponsor's banner before being secured with what one witness described as "twine and optimism". A St John volunteer on standby confirmed no injuries, although she did note the goat had "a look about it".
A council spokesperson said livestock were not, as a rule, encouraged at community parades, and that future events would include "clearer signage to that effect". Mr Halloran, asked whether he understood the issue, said he did not, and that the goat's name was Beverley.
At time of filing, the parade had concluded. Beverley had not.
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Reader Letters
triangle_rhonda
Bloody hell, only in Dunedin!
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, we would've just tied the goat to the ute and carried on. A bit of goat atmosphere never hurt anyone, eh?
Jenny_GreenIsland
How do you even get a goat into a parade without someone having a right old moan first? We're too uptight about rules these days!
Barry_L
This is exactly what happens when the council doesn't lay down the law. Next thing it'll be sheep in shopping centres.
wayne1987
Mate, a bit of twine and optimism can fix anything. Maybe it'll be part of the next parade, strategically holding things together!
Sandra McKenzie
Did you all not read the part where the goat ate the sponsor's banner? That seems important.
laughter_lassie
@Sandra who cares about a bloody banner. It's a classic Green Island story they'll talk about for years.
couchgremlin
Lol. Goats are munted.
Trev_Hornby
Honestly, what is the world coming to when a good kiwi parade gets stalled by a goat? Back in '82 we would've had a bbq with it.
artisitc_alice
I've heard this goat is known for its performance art in the wrong places. Perhaps it was making a statement?