OTAHUHU PARADE HELD UP 40 MINUTES AFTER LOCAL BRINGS GOAT "FOR ATMOSPHERE"
Organisers had planned for wind and rain. Nobody planned for Kevin.
The annual Otahuhu community parade was delayed by 40 minutes on Saturday after a local turned up at the assembly point with a goat he described as "a bit of atmosphere".
Dennis Falefa of Station Road said he'd been meaning to bring the goat — named Kevin — to a community event for a while. "He's sociable. Loves a crowd. Thought people would be pleased."
Parade marshal Coralie Whitmore was not pleased. "We had the pipe band ready, the tractors ready, and then Dennis turns up with a goat on a bit of rope. No permit. Just the goat and a lot of confidence."
The delay stretched as marshals argued about whether Kevin counted as an entrant, a hazard, or a spectator. Kevin ate part of a hi-vis vest and a corner of the running order. A St John volunteer said the goat was "well-behaved, all things considered".
Older residents reckoned the parade hadn't been this buggered since 1974, when a float lost a wheel outside the RSA. This reporter was there. Kevin's effort was quicker but harder to explain.
The parade eventually went ahead with Kevin walking between the Scouts and the Lions Club ute. Dennis has already asked about next year. Coralie has already said no.
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Reader Letters
★ BarryBishopdale
Bring your goat to life!
★ Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, parades were about community standards and proper organisation, not random goats disrupting everything.
Nostalgic_Neil
In 1974, things would’ve been sorted out faster. What the bloody hell happened to Kiwi ingenuity?
JoannePetone
Honestly, who brings an unannounced goat to a parade? It's not a petting zoo, Dennis!
KiwiKidd
@JoannePetone Yeah, but who gets harmed by a goat? Sounds like New Zealand banter to me.
★ Trev_Hornby
And here come the council clipboard munters complaining about permits. Just let Kevin have a walkabout!
★ BarryBishopdale
Wouldn't have happened without strict rules. The council can't handle a goat but loves bicycle lanes.
ParadeEnthusiast
Mate, it's called atmosphere. Kevin was just adding a bit of fun to the parade. No harm done!
snarky_sue
@ParadeEnthusiast Parade or farm show, hard to tell the difference in Otahuhu now?
couchgremlin
Lol
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