Category: Events

Feb 12
A GUIDE TO THE AUCKLAND RAINBOW PARADE

The Auckland Rainbow Parade returns to Ponsonby Road on Saturday 21 February with an electric, joyful and unapologetic atmosphere. Our guide will help you get the best out of your day and partying into the night.   WHAT TO EXPECT If you’ve never been to the Auckland Rainbow Parade before, here’s the moment that gets everyone […]

Feb 09
PICS: Unmissable Moments from Mr Bear New Zealand 2026 Final

Smiles, sass, solidarity — and so many bears. YOUR EX was there to capture the full rainbow of community joy as Auckland’s own Matt McVeigh was crowned Mr Bear New Zealand 2026 in a night that was equal parts heart and hilarity. From the moment the lights hit the stage to the roars of support […]

Feb 09
PICS | Furry and Friendly Bears Reconnect at Abstract Hotel Meet & Greet

Bear New Zealand Week 2026 kicked off in style with the Bear Week Meet & Greet, a relaxed and inclusive social event that set the tone for a weekend full of connection, community and celebration. Held on Wednesday 4 February in the courtyard of the Abstract Hotel in central Auckland, the Meet & Greet offered a welcoming space for […]

Feb 08
Matt McVeigh Crowned Mr Bear New Zealand 2026

After a night of confidence, community spirit and plenty of cheek, Matt McVeigh has officially been crowned Mr Bear New Zealand 2026, taking home the sash in front of a packed and passionate crowd. A familiar face within Auckland’s bear scene, Matt impressed judges and audiences alike with his warmth, humour and clear commitment to giving back. Born […]

Feb 05
‘We Belong’: Why the Rainbow Parade Matters

As Auckland’s Rainbow Parade gears up for another colourful celebration, Event Manager Shaughan Woodcock gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this year’s Parade so significant, and why our visibility remains vital. How many groups and organisations are marching in 2026, and what does that number say about where the Parade — and the […]

Feb 03
Burnett Foundation Reverses Position, Will Allow Politicians at Big Gay Out

The Burnett Foundation Aotearoa (formerly the NZAF) has reversed its earlier position and confirmed that politicians will be permitted on the main stage at this year’s Big Gay Out. In a statement shared on Facebook, the organisation acknowledged that the decision may be controversial, but framed the move as part of its broader advocacy mission. […]

Feb 03
Spreading Joy (and Legs): Adam Malone on Circus, Seduction, and Sensual Storytelling in La Ronde

Australian circus performer and burlesque artist Adam Malone will be spreading joy in Auckland Arts Festival circus show La Ronde this March. Talking to YOUR EX’s Oliver Hall, he discusses communicating without words, seducing straight audiences, and collective orgasms. Scroll through Adam Malone’s Instagram and you’ll find the tagline that pretty much sums it up: […]

Feb 03
Why Arts Festivals Still Matter

Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts Co-Director Tama Waipara discusses the Festival’s 40th anniversary, the pressures shaping this moment, and how we can all find identity and belonging in the arts. “The urgency, I suppose, is really of our times,” he says. For Tama, this anniversary doesn’t exist in isolation. It lands amid a […]