**Santa might not be able to make it this year for the annual parade through town. Photo: Dan Hutchinson**

Taupō’s annual Santa Parade won’t be going ahead this year unless a new organiser can be found.

The parade is organised by Easterfest NZ Trust – a collection of Taupō pastors.

Trustee James Stevens says two things drove the decision: the parade no longer fits with the trust's kaupapa, and a major sponsor pulled out roughly a week ago.

"We just felt like this was just one of those things that we couldn't carry," James says.

The trust, which is currently going through a renaming process, is redirecting its energy towards its Easter weekend events, the Te Hāhi community initiative which supports people affected by family harm, and a range of faith-based programmes in Taupō.

The parade has grown steadily over the past two to three years and attracts thousands of spectators.

The event runs entirely on a voluntary basis, with traffic management being the biggest cost.

Stevens acknowledges the timing isn't ideal but says there's still enough time for another organisation to step up.

**There are sure to be plenty of shocked faces when news of the Santa Parade cancellation spreads. Photo: Dan Hutchinson**

"We'll just need some bold, courageous person to stand up and say, actually, we want to keep this alive.”

The trust has been in discussions with the Taupō District Council and is ready to hand over all event documentation, budgets, and operational templates to whoever takes it on.

"I don't think anyone's going to start having to reinvent the wheel or anything."

Many of the current volunteers have already expressed an interest in staying involved under new organisers.

The trust itself took on the parade at short notice in a previous year from long-term organiser Locky McNeill and made it work, so Stevens is confident the same is possible for another willing group.

Anyone interested in taking over the Santa Parade is encouraged to get in touch — the trust is offering full support through the handover.

Taupō District Council Acting District Events Manager Sarah Ashton says the council has not historically delivered the event and will not be taking on the delivery of the Santa Parade.

“Our role is to support event organisers through advice, facilitation, advocacy, and helping connect people and organisations where appropriate.”

“At no point is Council proposing to become the event organiser. The Santa Parade has historically been a community-led event, and any future delivery would need to be driven by an interested community organisation, group, or collective of volunteers.”

 She felt that with the right group of people the event would not be too difficult to organise as a template already existed for running the event and plans were already in place.

Finding a major sponsor for the event would be key to its success though.

The contact for potential organisers of the Santa Parade is advancechurchtaupo@gmail.com