Category: New Zealand

Sep 05
Peter Ellis Dies While Appealing Conviction

Ellis was just two months away from a supreme court hearing which may have vindicated him of historic sex convictions.  Peter Ellis has died aged 61 after a battle against bladder cancer. Ellis was convicted in 1993 of 13 counts of sexually abusing children at Christchurch Civic Centre. He was sentenced to 10 years and […]

Sep 02
If These Walls Could Talk

Gareth Watkins looks back at the events that shaped Aotearoa’s LGBTI+ community. September 1863 Explorer and writer Samuel Butler wrote of his blossoming relationship with Charles Paine Pauli whom he met in Christchurch.  Butler recounted that a barman in California had labeled Pauli as “the handsomest man God ever sent into San Francisco.” After an […]

Aug 31
What is Happening with Auckland’s 2020 Pride Month?

Auckland’s two separate Pride organisations will each produce a Pride Festival; giving us a full month of Pride celebrations in February but no full-scale parade. Auckland Pride has announced key dates for their festival including the return of the Pride Gala (1 Feb) and OurMarch (8 Feb) which will be followed by OurParty, “a free […]

Aug 24
Rainbow Pride Auckland Still Planning February 2020 Pride Month Celebrations

Despite not securing ATEED funding for a full-scale parade; Rainbow Pride Auckland tell express they will still put on a ‘range of rainbow celebrations’ from 16-29 February 2020, which will run directly after Auckland Pride’s festival (1-16 February), giving us a full month of Pride events.  In a statement Rainbow Pride Auckland tells us:  “Rainbow […]

Aug 23
Exclusive: 2020 Auckland Pride Parade Now Unlikely

ATEED will not be funding Rainbow Pride Auckland’s proposed parade next year. Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED) will not be funding Rainbow Pride Auckland’s proposed pride parade next year. ATEED has confirmed to express that due to the inability to find a suitable parade route, the council organisation would not be providing parade funding […]

Aug 19
Tom Sainsbury to Run for Mayor of Auckland as Alter Ego ‘Fiona’

The Snapchat comedian’s alter ego says she made the decision to run while drunk. Local comedian Tom Sainsbury has declared he or rather his alter ego ‘Fiona’ will be running for Mayor of Auckland against current incumbent Mayor Phil Goff and his primary challenger John Tamihere. ‘Fiona’ is just one of Sainsbury’s many alter egos. […]

Aug 14
Inspector Tracy Phillips Departs New Zealand Police

NZ Police say they are changing the way they provide support to their LGBTI+ staff and won’t be refilling the Diversity Liaison Officer Coordinator position. Inspector Tracy Phillips [pictured, right] has left the New Zealand police to take up a new role with the SPCA. Phillips had served as the very first Diversity Liaison Officer […]

Aug 05
Peter Ellis One Step Closer to Clearing His Name but Time is Running Out

As Peter Ellis fights his terminal bladder cancer diagnosis, the former creche worker is one step closer to clearing his name. Peter Ellis is one step closer to clearing the 13 convictions he has in relation to sexually abusing seven children during the early 1990s in Christchurch. The former Christchurch civic creche worker was originally […]