Category: New Zealand

Levi Joule discovers Hamilton’s ‘hidden’ gay scene. Sitting in the taxi on the way to Hamilton Pride’s launch party, my friend from Auckland Pride chatted away to the driver explaining what the party and the week was all about. “Will there be a parade like Auckland’s?” he inquired. My friend laughed. “No, Hamilton’s scene isn’t […]

The former Australian high court justice and GLBT rights advocate will deliver a lecture on the issue of marriage equality and justice. Michael Kirby, one of the world’s most well known judges will speak at a special event at the University of Auckland on Friday September 25th where he will compare recent developments in New […]

Auckland Council’s rainbow advisory panel has been officially revealed. The Rainbow Communities Advisory Panel has now been formally established, giving Auckland’s GLBT community a vehicle by which to provide strategic advice to Auckland Council on issues of importance. The inaugural members of the Rainbow Communities Advisory Panel are: Jordon Harris (Interim Co-Chair) Julie Radford-Poupard (Interim […]

Levi Joule chats with David Cooper from Malcolm Pacific about some of the challenges cross-cultural same-sex couples face when dealing with New Zealand immigration. There isn’t much in the way of immigration issues that David Cooper hasn’t seen in his time as both a ministry of immigration official and advisor for Malcolm Pacific. While every […]

Auckland’s gay rugby team has won the Purchas cup. The Falcons won the Trans Tasman competition today beating the Melbourne Chargers 20-8 in the decider. The weekend marked the first time the Purchas Cup was held in New Zealand and saw two days of play with six gay and inclusive teams taking part. Read express’s […]

Body Positive has announced the closure of its Wellington branch, with a loss of funding responsible.  The charitable organisation announced the news to its members in an email citing fiscal pressures as the reason for the Wellington office closure. In the email, signed by CEO Mark Fisher and chairperson Ashley Barratt, explains the issues that […]

The Department of Corrections has agreed to shift a transgendered prisoner to a women’s facility. Wellington woman Jade Follett was sentenced to a 21 month jail sentence in July for stabbing a man who had stalked and threatened her. Follett had until now been serving the sentence in Rimutaka Prison – a male prison. However, […]

Pride has today confirmed that Richard Taki will not return to direct 2016’s pride parade. Mr Taki who directed 2014 and 2015’s parade won’t be returning for a third stint as parade director Auckland Pride has confirmed. Auckland Pride has put out a release asking for expressions of interest to fill the now vacant position. […]