Richard Parker - the Tauranga man behind city's Christmas floats

Has Richard Parker ever faced an idea he couldn't build?

"No" he replies with a Cheshire cat-like smile etching across his face.

Which is fitting as he stands next to some cupcake and lollypop props from the Alice in Wonderland float he built.

Parker has an impressive talent for building and creating products by bringing ideas to life.

Many Tauranga locals would have seen some of his creations over the years, but many may not know the man behind the Christmas floats.

Last Saturday two of his latest creations, Santa Claus' float and the Disney Princess float, had their debut in the Trustpower Christmas Parade.

Parker runs his business BlackChilli from his workshop near Greerton but gives a lot of his time to designing and creating the floats.

He says he would like to see more businesses around Tauranga contribute their time or services to make sure the Christmas Parade continues to grow.

Parker has been involved in making floats for the Christmas Parade for the past three years and said he does it to see the enjoyment from the crowds.

"It's for the kids really; it's about their favourite characters coming to life."

He begins jumping up and down re-enacting a scene between the Mad Hatter, The Joker and Batman he saw from the Christmas Parade in Tauranga on the weekend.

Richard Parker uses different materials to create interesting products from Christmas floats to Minions. Photo/ John Borren

The 57-year-old has a background in cabinet making but says the creative side is where his passion lies.

He says a lot of his clients come to him with a simple idea or an elaborate picture which he then uses to creates a life-size masterpiece.

"I get a concept then I visualise what people want.. the ideas can be limitless," he says as his eyes begin to widen.

The Englishman, who is originally from Lincolnshire, says he remembers always being a very creative child.

"I was always tinkering around and making things, always painting and drawing too."

It seems the creative gene has carried through the Parker family as his four grandchildren can often be found in the workshop too.

"If you give a child some paints, some wood, a little saw and a hot glue gun, you'll be amazed what they can produce."

"They (his grandchildren) just love the parades too, on Saturday I could hear them before I could see them," he laughs.

Fiona Corker is the organiser of the Trustpower Christmas Parade and has worked with Parker for the past three years.

"I can just bring any idea to him, and he'll look at it in a creative way and add to it... he always thinks outside the box."

What has Richard made before?

-Furniture, everything from building block coffee tables to medieval thrones
-Cabinetmaking, Richard has been involved in furnishing two entire schools back in England
-The Pop Up Park in Tauranga CBD in 2015
-A giant stamp for the Young Innovator of the Year awards
-Batman's Jetski which could be seen in the Christmas Parade from the last two years
-Christmas Parade floats including a Princess float, Santa's float and a Frozen float