GREEN ISLAND PARADE STALLED 40 MINUTES AFTER ATTENDEE ARRIVES WITH GOAT FOR "ATMOSPHERE"

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.