Craig Young explores the legislation intended to reform New Zealand’s surrogacy laws. The Improving Arrangements for Surrogacy Bill provides the following amendments to existing parliamentary acts. The Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2004 is amended so that while it will remain illegal to undertake a commercial surrogacy transaction within New Zealand, it will now be […]
The queer women behind, We Were Dangerous, writer Maddie Dai and director Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, discuss the personal inspirations behind this timely tale of autonomy, freedom and independent spirit. Filmed in Christchurch, We Were Dangerous tells the story of Nellie, Daisy and Lou, three girls labelled to be so uncivilised that they are sent to a school […]
In a disheartening act of vandalism, approximately 29 Winter Pride-branded flags were removed or stolen across Queenstown just days before the ten days of celebration kickoff. These flags, installed as part of the Winter Pride celebrations, were intended to symbolize inclusion, diversity, and support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Their removal sends a troubling message, raising […]
Historian Gareth Watkins highlights August dates that are significant for Aotearoa’s LGBTQ+ communities. 24 August 1976 The NZ Truth tabloid newspaper began a 6-week campaign to publicly out National MP Marilyn Waring. Its first front-page headline read, “MP’s Odd Love Affair.” The story reported that Waring’s lover was a “mother of three who left her husband […]
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has appointed Dr Stephen Rainbow as head of the anti-discrimination Human Rights Commission. Craig Young assesses what the appointment of a centre-right gay man, means for the commission. At sixty-three, Rainbow has had a broad spectrum of political affiliations, starting with Labour in the eighties and the Greens in the nineties, […]
Grammy Award-winning rock ensemble Greta Van Fleet is set to make a dynamic return to New Zealand as part of their Starcatcher World Tour. The band will grace Auckland’s Spark Arena on 30 August, marking their first performance in the country since 2019. Originating from Frankenmuth, Michigan, the group comprises brothers Josh Kiszka (vocals), Jake […]
This August, Rialto Channel celebrates 25 years as New Zealand’s leading platform for independent, award-winning, and critically acclaimed films. Since its inception, Rialto Channel has carved out a unique space in the cinematic landscape, not only as a curator of world-class cinema but also as a vital supporter of diverse storytelling, with a particular emphasis […]
The Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura report card is giving the government at ‘F’ when it comes to preventing violence for Takataapui and Rainbow communities. “Flunking the government didn’t sit easily with us, but we didn’t really have a choice,” says project lead Sandra Dickson. “The reality is, there’s just one social work role responding to family […]