Auckland's annual Santa Parade has been postponed due to bad weather for the first time in 20 years.

Photo: FARMERS SANTA PARADE

Heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms are forecast in Auckland today.

The parade's general manager Pam Glaser said the last time the event was postponed due to poor weather was in 1998.

The parade, which is celebrating its 85th year, will go ahead next Sunday Ms Glaser said.

"We had to take all factors into account and make sure that the participants are safe and the spectators are safe. It's always a very hard decision to make," Ms Glaser said.

Ms Glaser said she expects thousands of people to attend the event next week.

The postponement follows the Parade Trust's decision to use a different Santa Claus agency after the original Santa was sidelined for comments he made about women.

Neville Baker told the NZ Herald women should not perform the role of Santa Claus, and went on to say that Santa's little helpers wear a little skirt and top, something he said a man wouldn't do.