Coffins offend Santa's fans

Graphic anti drink-drive floats in Whakatane's Christmas parade last Saturday have drawn criticism from some parents, unimpressed by the sight of blood-spattered teenagers and youngsters in coffins.

"The drink-driving messages are definitely important, particularly for teenagers and young adults," said one mother. "But there are times and places for such things and the Christmas Parade, where the audience consists of mainly parents and young children, is not one of them.

"My children went to collect as many lollies as possible, maybe get squirted by a few water pistols and, of course, see Santa.

"They did not expect to see dead teenagers lying across the bonnet of a car."

- NZPA