Parade to honour Olympic medallists

The Whakatāne District is gearing up to celebrate its local Olympic heroes with a special parade in honour of Dame Lisa Carrington, Hayden Wilde, and Stacey Waaka. Unfortunately, Mahina Paul won’t be able to attend as she’ll be competing in the Rugby 7s in Dubai.

The parade will take place at Rex Morpeth Park on Tuesday, 26 November, and promises to be a vibrant celebration of our athletes' achievements on the world stage.

• The event will begin with the medallists being driven around a pre-marked route in open-top vehicles, allowing the community to cheer them on from viewing spots around the park.
• While the athletes will not have time to sign autographs or pose for individual photos, pre-signed postcards will be available as mementos for attendees.
• Following the parade, there will be a pōwhiri and formal welcome from Ngāti Awa, with stage performances and acknowledgements of the athletes. 

Those wishing to join the festivities should arrive from noon with lunch or a picnic, as the parade will officially begin at 1pm with the event concluding around 2pm.

Schools, clubs, and families are encouraged to come along, and everyone is invited to get creative with flags and banners to wave in celebration.

This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our local Olympians and show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Come along and be part of this memorable afternoon.