Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick is once again unable to attend tomorrow’s Auckland Rainbow Parade.
In a statement to YOUR EX, a spokesperson from Swarbrick tells us: “A long-planned Green Party policy conference is taking place this weekend in Waikanae, which all MPs will be attending, upholding a commitment they have each made in the Party-Caucus agreement. On Saturday, Chlöe is scheduled to address members as a candidate for the co-leadership. The Green Party will be present at Big Gay Out on Sunday and at the Pride March in a few weeks. We look forward to our continued advocacy for our rainbow communities, including and especially against this Government’s stated intentions to take us backwards on sex, sexuality and gender education in schools and rainbow inclusion in sports.”
What Swarbrick’s statement doesn’t acknowledge is that she has never attended the Auckland Rainbow Parade since its inception in 2020, despite becoming MP for the local area in October of that year. Not only has Swarbrick not been present but neither have any Green Party officials.
Tomorrow’s parade will see a presence from the governing Nation Party, coalition partner ACT, and the Labour Party, but will again have no official presence from the Green Party, despite their consistent affirming policies on rainbow issues.
Auckland Rainbow Parade Event Manager Shaughan Woodcock, says organisers would love to see The Green Party, and especially Auckland’s Central MP supporting the parade.
“The Green Party marched in the Ponsonby Parades right up until 2018 and we look forward to welcoming them back into the Parade to celebrate inclusiveness and diversity,” Woodcock tells us.
YOUR EX has reached out to Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick for further comment.
