Category: New Zealand

May 17
Exclusive | NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson: “We Want To Be A Force For Good”

To mark IDAHOBIT (International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination) Mark Robinson tells express what New Zealand Rugby is doing to make the game safer for Rainbow communities. Out On The Fields In 2015, Out On The Fields, was the first international study into homophobia in sport. The research (which included NZ statistics) found that 80% of […]

May 16
Chef Anna Weir: Mixing Up A Masterpiece

Anna Weir went from whipping up prolific pasta at legendary Auckland Italian Amano, to Head Chef at Ponsonby’s Daphne’s concocting bold Greek flavours. She talks to express about hospitality’s post-Lockdown future and starring on TVNZ’s Snack Masters. What inspired you to want to work in the restaurant scene? I have had the luxury of always […]

May 03
Dancing With The Stars: Eli Matthewson Eliminated

Despite placing in the top 3 of the judge’s scores, the public vote means the NZ show’s first same-sex dance couple has been sent home. Eli Matthewson has been shown the Dancing with the Stars door just two weeks into the 2022 competition. The comedian and his dance partner Johnny Williams were voted off the show despite […]

Apr 27
Interview: Louisa Wall’s Unfinished Business

As Louisa Wall leaves parliament, she chats with Levi Joule about the highs and lows of her parliamentary career and what’s next for her legacy. Louisa Wall wants everyone to know she’s not departing from public life anytime soon.  Wall makes it clear to express that her impending departure from Parliament after more than a […]

Apr 17
Boxing NZ Accused Of Being Anti-Trans By Rainbow Boxing Organisation

The President of Rainbow Boxing New Zealand has taken a swing at Boxing New Zealand, describing the organisation as anti-trans and not welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community. Benjamin Thomas Watt, who is the president of the non-profit organisation Rainbow Boxing New Zealand, made the comments as he announced the closure of the organisation he had […]

Apr 11
NZ’s Queer History: 50 Years of Gay Liberation

On the 50th anniversary of the birth of NZ’s Gay Liberation Front, Gareth Watkins highlights April dates that made a difference to Aotearoa’s LGBTQ+ community.  11 April 1972 This month marks the 50th anniversary of the first Gay Liberation Front action – a Gay Day held in Auckland. Historian Will Hansen writes “Activists led by […]

Apr 04
Dancing With The Stars NZ First Same-Sex Pairing

Eli Matthewson and Jonny Williams will be NZ’s first same-sex dance partners competing in the new series of Dancing With The Stars. After Covid-restrictions stopped the series from being produced in 2020 and 2021, Dancing With The Stars NZ is back and this year will finally include a same-sex pairing as comedian Eli Matthewson enters […]

Mar 30
Taranaki’s First Ever Pride Festival Is Here!

Express chats with organiser Sunita Torrance (aka Coco Flash) about OUTfest – Taranaki’s first LGBTQ+ festival, that will be taking over New Plymouth from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 April. Sunita Torrance is one of the founding members of OUTfest along with renowned queer artist Shannan Novak and Sunita’s drag partner in crime, Daniel Lockett (aka […]