Pride Around the Motu
Our services and outreach teams were honoured to visit more pride events around the motu this year than ever before. That’s something to be proud of.
Hamilton Pride in the Park
Our teams were not only able to make meaningful connections with our communities we are here to serve, but also connect with the Pride Committees, and event organisers to build long-lasting partnerships for the future.
Waihamara Closing and Mapu Maia Northcote Family Health
Waihamara Closing and Mapu Maia Northcote Family Health
“We felt connected to the wider national kōrero around Pride in Aotearoa. These blossoming events represent the future for local rainbow rangatahi, or young people, and secure and safe spaces for them to thrive in,” says the Tāmaki Makaurau Burnett Centre team.
Our long-standing Big Gay Out event has been a pillar of the Auckland Pride calendar, but it is important that other towns and cities across Aotearoa have strong Pride events for communities to come together and connect.
The Auckland team loved handing out free HIV self-test kits and goodie bags to community members, as well as receiving feedback on the different resources we have available for communities and allies.
Whangarei Pride. Photo credit: HUGO MEDIA HOUSE
“As a national organisation it is valuable for us to be at these events because it shows great manaakitanga for partnerships to these regions. Local pride events in small-town areas and locations should be just as much an avenue for celebrating and fun energy as the events in our big centres.”
Taupō Pride. Photo credit: Rachael Smith.
Āwhina Team Out and Proud in Wellington
Pride Parade and Out in the City
Āwhina Team Out and Proud in Wellington
Pride Parade and Out in the City
For the Toḵa team in Ōtautahi one of their highlights was the Pride Walk for Support and the visibility it provided the small but very diverse community in Christchurch.
“It was also awesome to see so many allies coming out to join us on the walk and getting involved in our community. There was such a variety of events for this year’s Pride that there was something for every part of the queer and takatāpui community.”
Wellington Pride Picnic
The community feedback from the Pride Flea Market was very positive and community was very excited to have a market which is a safe space to hang out with their friends and whānau, sell their arts and crafts and connect with each other and our community organisations.
Ōtautahi Pride Market
Right photo credit: Boots.
Ōtautahi Pride Market
Right photo credit: Boots.
“As a sex-positive, harm-reduction organisation, we have a lot of cross over with other similar community organisations, whether that's because of their health promotion, rainbow, or harm reduction focus.”
Ōtautahi Pride Market. Photo credit: Aunty D.
“Holding spaces like our Pride Flea Market allows organisations to connect with the wider rainbow community. The market gave space for Moana Vā and Indian Origin Pride, and health orgs like Hep C Clinic and Smoke Free to connect with local people who may not currently be in touch with these services. Markets tend to bring out a different group of people from our usual populations.”
Our centres in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington are welcoming spaces for our communities and host weekly condom packings as an opportunity to connect with people while helping us do our work.