Le Gateau Chocolat returns to Tāmaki Makaurau this July for Auckland Live Cabaret Festival with Musicals Mayhem, but behind the glamour, Oliver Hall discovers an artist reshaping expectations around identity, visibility and hope in troubling times. When Le Gateau Chocolat walks onto a stage, audiences often think they know what they are getting. They see a […]
Whanganui Pride Week is set to bring a vibrant celebration of rainbow identity, creativity and community to the city from 13 June to 20 June. Led by Pride Whanganui, the week-long programme features a mix of free, koha and ticketed events designed to offer something for all ages, from art, books and shared kai to […]
Members of the public are being invited to attend a special celebration honouring the life of Dame Jools Topp. The Celebration of Dame Jools Topp will be held at the Auckland Viaduct Events Centre on Friday, 19 June 2026, at 2pm. The event will bring together whānau, friends, fellow artists, fans and members of the […]
Nathan Nutanan Andrews, known as Nay Nay, is remembered as a beloved SPQR host, Ponsonby icon and cherished member of Aotearoa’s rainbow community. Nutanan Nathan Andrews, known affectionately to many as Nay Nay, is being remembered as a beloved Ponsonby hospitality icon, a cherished whānau member, and a bright presence in Aotearoa’s rainbow community. Nathan, […]
A bill that would legally define the words “woman” and “man” across New Zealand legislation is now before Parliament, with the public given until 2 July 2026 to make a submission. The Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill, introduced by New Zealand First MP Jenny Marcroft, passed its first reading on 20 May […]
Urge’s King’s Birthday weekend Underwear Party left very little to the imagination, with the sold-out event packing Centurian to capacity on Sunday 31 May. After demand surged and tickets disappeared eight days out, Urge Events moved the party to Centurian on Symonds Street, where partygoers embraced the brief in every sense. Jocks, briefs, boxers, harnesses […]
YOUR EX meets the queer creative team behind SUGAR When SUGAR played Brisbane, writer Ro Bright says the politics of the show shifted in real time. “Every country we take SUGAR to, the politics around sex work, sugar culture, and the trans community is different,” Bright tells YOUR EX. “We encounter laws that take away our rights […]
In 2026, Aotearoa New Zealand marks a big milestone: 40 years since the passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986. This landmark legislation decriminalised consensual sexual activity between men aged 16 and over, bringing an end to decades of legal persecution and stigma. The 40th anniversary is a moment of celebration as well as […]