Aotearoa’s trailblazing transgender icon Georgina Beyer is being honoured with a lasting tribute in Taranaki, as a lawn in New Plymouth’s beautiful Pukekura Park is named after the history-making politician and LGBTQ+ advocate.
One of New Zealand’s most celebrated rainbow pioneers will be remembered in a special public gathering this Sunday, 15 November 2026, when Pride Taranaki hosts a celebration marking the naming of Georgina Beyer Lawn.
The space, formerly known as the Boatshed Lawn, will carry the name of the woman who made international history as the world’s first openly transgender mayor and Member of Parliament.
The free event will bring together rainbow communities, whānau, friends and supporters for an afternoon of remembrance, connection and celebration.
And while Georgina’s extraordinary political career is most closely associated with Carterton and Wellington, this tribute holds a particularly personal connection.
Taranaki is where her story began.
A Special Homecoming For An LGBTQ+ Trailblazer
Although Georgina Beyer was born in Wellington in 1957, she spent her earliest years growing up in Taranaki.
Her maternal grandparents, Taka and Aileen Tamati, raised her in the region until she was approximately five years old.
In a 2016 interview with E-Tangata, Georgina spoke about those early years and the importance of her whakapapa.
She identified her Māori heritage through Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Porou, while reflecting on her childhood and the whānau who helped raise her.
That connection makes the naming of Georgina Beyer Lawn especially meaningful.
The tribute brings her name back to the region where she spent her formative years, ensuring her achievements are remembered by future generations.
From Carterton Mayor To Making World History
Georgina’s journey from small-town New Zealand to international recognition remains one of Aotearoa’s most remarkable political stories.
After working in entertainment, acting and community roles, she entered local politics in the Wairarapa.
In 1993, she was elected to Carterton District Council.
Two years later, she made history by becoming the world’s first openly transgender mayor, winning the Carterton mayoralty in 1995.
But Georgina wasn’t finished breaking barriers.
In the 1999 general election, she won the traditionally conservative Wairarapa electorate for Labour by 3,033 votes.
When she was sworn into Parliament on 10 December 1999, she became the world’s first openly transgender MP.
Her election attracted international attention and established her as a prominent figure in LGBTQ+ political history.
Georgina served as Wairarapa’s electorate MP until 2005 and continued as a Labour list MP until 2007.
During her parliamentary career, she supported significant social reforms, including the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 and Civil Union Act 2004.
She was also a visible advocate for LGBTQ+ communities, using her position to challenge discrimination and promote equality.
In 2020, her contributions were recognised when she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to LGBTQIA+ rights.
Georgina died in March 2023, aged 65, leaving an extraordinary legacy of political representation and advocacy.
A Lasting Tribute During Trans Awareness Week
The naming celebration takes place during Trans Awareness Week, observed in Aotearoa from 13 to 19 November, ahead of Transgender Day of Remembrance on 20 November.
The timing offers an opportunity to reflect on Georgina’s achievements and the importance of transgender visibility in New Zealand’s history.
For many rainbow and takatāpui people, Georgina represented something that had once seemed almost unimaginable: an openly transgender Māori woman elected to public office and representing an entire electorate in Parliament.
Her success challenged assumptions about who could hold political power and helped make space for future generations of LGBTQ+ leaders.
Now, her name will become a permanent part of one of New Plymouth’s most loved public spaces.
Pride Taranaki Invites The Community To Celebrate
Pride Taranaki is inviting the public to gather at the newly named lawn beside the boatshed in Pukekura Park on Sunday afternoon.
The event will feature speakers from several communities, offering an opportunity to share memories, reflect on Georgina’s achievements and celebrate her contribution to Aotearoa.
Refreshments will follow the formal proceedings, giving attendees time to reconnect and spend time together.
The occasion is free to attend, but an RSVP is essential.
Georgina Beyer Lawn Celebration — Event Details
Date: Sunday 15 November 2026
Time: 2pm–5pm
Location: Georgina Beyer Lawn (formerly Boatshed Lawn), Pukekura Park, 10 Fillis Street, New Plymouth
Cost: Free
Organiser: Pride Taranaki
RSVP: Essential
🌈 RSVP HERE — Georgina Beyer Lawn Public Celebration
A Legacy That Will Continue To Grow
Georgina Beyer spent her life challenging expectations, opening doors and demonstrating that transgender people belong in every part of public life.
From her early childhood in Taranaki to her history-making elections in Carterton and Parliament, her story is now firmly part of New Zealand’s national history.
The naming of Georgina Beyer Lawn offers a place where that story can continue to be shared.
For those who knew her, admired her or were inspired by her courage, Sunday’s gathering is an opportunity to remember a remarkable woman whose achievements extended far beyond Aotearoa.
And what a fitting tribute: a place where people can gather, connect and celebrate the life of someone who helped make New Zealand a more inclusive place. 💖
