“When they reached out and asked if I’d be interested in it and I think now that I’ve got a couple of kids of my own it sort of seems like a cool thing to do.”
Last year's Farmers Santa Parade in central Auckland. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Johnson recalls spending Christmas with his family who would put extra effort into making the day feel special.
“My dad always made it pretty special or put a pretty big effort to make it a special day and I always remember we always had heaps of family around.”
He hopes to give the same feeling he felt as a child to other kids at the parade.
“I was attracted to it because it’s just the thought of being able to make Christmas special for a kid out there like the experiences I had as a kid.”
Johnson says his 3-year-old daughter Millah is the most excited to lead the parade with him.
“She’s going to be pretty fizzed I reckon when we get out there and she gets to experience it. Some of the floats and some of the performances that she’ll definitely recognise.
“It’s quite obviously a bit of a buzz for me but more of a buzz for her for sure.”
