A Showcase of Innovation, Engineering & Community Spirit! To celebrate The Crane Associations 50TH year in the industry, CEO Sarah Toase wanted to do something bold - something that would showcase the scale of their daily operations and connect with the local community. And she did just that!

That’s how the idea of the Crane Parade was born.

HOW WE MADE IT HAPPEN

THE PLAN
Over several weeks, our team worked closely with the local council, crane operators, and marketing teams to coordinate the movement of 15 cranes through Central Wellington.

APPROVALS
Along with the CEO of the Crane Association, we worked closely with the amazing team at Wellington Council to secure approval for closing the main road in Central Wellington, allowing the cranes to parade through the heart of the city.

CRANES
In the end, we had around 15 cranes take part in the parade, with thousands of people in attendance! The response was incredible - many were asking to make this an annual event. It was a full-blown success!

WHERE IT HAPPENED

Map plans showing the parade route we submitted to the council for approval on the left, and the entry route for the cranes into Barnett Street Carpark on the right, where they parked after the parade.

Footage of the cranes arriving and parking at Barnett Street Carpark, where members of the public had the chance to see the machines up close following the parade.

Attendee numbers
Thousands of people of all ages gathered along Wellington’s waterfront for the crane parade. It was a fantastic family day in the capital - kids enjoyed rides and photos with the cranes, and the atmosphere was full of excitement and community spirit.

Community
Andrew from Barnett St Carpark was kind enough to work with us, generously providing access to his carpark so the cranes could be parked there after the parade. This allowed the public to get up close and personal with the machines a rare and exciting opportunity for many!

Encore
The response from the public was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees asking if the crane parade could become an annual event. It was clear that the spectacle captured the imagination of people of all ages, and there’s already strong community interest in seeing it return next year.

This event was all about bringing the community together and showcasing the incredible role cranes play in shaping our cities. By bringing them into the heart of the city, we gave the public especially kids and families a chance to see these powerful machines up close in a fun, interactive way.

An opportunity to educate and inspire. From future engineers to curious onlookers, the day sparked conversations, questions, and a new appreciation for the work that often happens behind construction fences. The event helped break down barriers between industry and community, showing that the work we do is not only essential - it’s exciting.

The turnout and feedback proved there’s a real appetite for events that connect people with the work happening around them. It reminded us that when we open the gates and share what we do, the community shows up - and they love it.