Following the Cancellation of Wellington’s Out in the Park and Pride Hīkoi, the Wellington International Pride Parade has been delayed until further notice and will not take place this weekend.
In a post on the organisation’s Facebook page, they stated:
“With our hearts heavy,the Board of the Wellington International Pride Parade has decided to postpone our celebration of inclusion, diversity and humanity – a new date will be announced in due course.
We, like all New Zealanders, are hurting today. We have considered long and hard about asking Wellingtonians to walk alongside us in solidarity with our friends and whanau in Christchurch; we don’t want terrorists to win, we don’t want terrorists to dictate how we live our lives.
If we were to proceed, we would divert crucial emergency services away from their duty. While we want to march in solidarity, to resist these acts of hate and intolerance and to tell terrorists they have no power in our country, we believe it is more important to honour the lives of those who were taken today.
We stand with all New Zealanders who are appalled by the attack on our liberty and we will be back; taller, stronger and with resolve.
Kia Kaha Christchurch. Kia Kaha Aotearoa.”
