'Woke nonsense!' Santa and his elves forced to wear seatbelts during Christmas parade after health and safety 'over-reach'

The parade's director Jason Reekers said some floats will have to have seatbelts and safety bars installed to avert "fall risks" - including Santa's sleigh.

One councillor, Aaron Keown, said that while seatbelts made sense for performers on floats high off the ground, for low, slow-moving floats, it was a step too far.

The town's Christmas parade has descended into farce after the 'woke' health and safety 'over-reach'

CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTMAS SHOW PARADE

Father Christmas will have to wear a seatbelt at this year's show

CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTMAS SHOW PARADE

Scandrett, who has been involved in the parade for years, said the vehicles would not be "going more than 5km/h - if you were lucky".

But director Reekers has defended the "woke" measures - pointing to how he'd be held liable if an accident were to happen.

"These floats are 30, 40, 50 years old, and we've never had any problem and never had anybody fall off. But I also realise that today's a different world, everybody's... looking for a head to roll if there's an accident.

"I don't want it to be my head. So I'm going to comply with anything that I'm given."

Fortunately, the community has stepped up - a number of companies from nearby Canterbury have donated the safety gear, worth an estimated $5,000 (£2,300).

Other local lawmakers have voiced their opinions on the health and safety red tape - Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy said that, as far as he knew, there wouldn't be any seatbelts on floats in his city's parade on December 1.

"Why are they killing the parade?" Guppy asked. "We certainly know how to ruin fun!"