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We're currently at out in the park. It's a sunny day with just a light wind. So it's a very nice day. And I'm part of the labour stall, uh, in the middle of the park, surrounded by stores and lots of people and different colours and so forth. So we're here to, uh, promote the Labour Party, give people a chance to sign up to what we're up to, uh, and just give away stickers and, um, yeah, just be positive. So, um, a big change has happened since last out in the park, which is that labour is now [00:00:30] in government. Um, what does that mean for rainbow LGBTI communities? I think having a labour led government means we have a much greater chance to make people's lives better. A lot of our policies are really grounded in what the community has said they want and need so better health care, better education, improving the workplace, and many other things as well. Um, one of the other things is just the tone of government being optimistic for the country and being supportive of people being more enabling, being relentlessly [00:01:00] proud of the community. And labour has always been quite an ally of the community. I would say over the past 30 years we've passed laws that have made people's lives better. And when we've been in government and had a chance to carry out policies, we've made things better for people. So that's why we're here. To promote labour just to be here. People have been grabbing all our stickers, colourful stickers. So we just want to keep that going. We also have now, um, some pretty high ranking, um, out [00:01:30] members of parliament. So I'm thinking of Lassa Wall. I'm thinking also of Grant Robertson being the the finance Minister. What impact do you think that will have on, um, the the the government and what legislation goes through? I'm hopeful that having uh, rainbow MP S amongst the labour cabinet and government will mean that, um, policies that affect all New Zealanders get implemented, but also to make sure that the Rainbow Policies that we campaigned about in the election also [00:02:00] become part of the mix and actually get carried out. Um, I guess there is always a balance between MPs being quite busy with there being a minister and a main portfolio versus also giving attention to particular communities. Um, but I think I'm hopeful we can actually achieve that right balance and just start making progress on most fronts. It won't always come immediately. Change never happens immediately necessarily. But I would say from a Labour [00:02:30] Volunteers point of view, I'm much more hopeful we can go in the right direction, but it will take a bit of time. Um, I think I think it's up to all of us, not just people inside the Labour Party, but also people just in the community to keep raising the issues that are important to them. For example, uh, making sure that healthcare is fully inclusive of transgender people, uh, adoption laws, safer schools. I think it's more just to keep raising that so that the government can hear that that that's what we are concerned [00:03:00] about it and actually act on it. So our job is certainly not done just because our party is in government. We need to make sure our policies are carried out, so I'd encourage you know, everyone just to keep raising their voice. Um, just in it just it's just a general principle, really, of what a government should be doing for its citizens, including Rainbow Citizens on a personal level. What does, uh, being out in the park mean to you? Yeah, I'm sort of comparing my outland and park experience this time with, I think last year or the year before. I mean, Outland and Park [00:03:30] is so much bigger than it was, but it has also managed to keep that happy, relaxed, positive feel. I've We've just had huge positively today in a relaxed way. So it's, you know, there's lots of music, lots of people milling around, lots of families, lots of same sex couples. I mean to me, From my point of view, it's far more relaxed and positive than ever before. Um, I think being in the park that it's a lot more space helps with that. And [00:04:00] maybe it's just the climate. I mean, it's possible, you know, having a new government and the tone from the top actually really matters with political leadership. That might help a bit of that. Perhaps, um so yeah, I mean, I'm hopeful that, you know, when we have out in the park next year in 2019, we'll still be feeling the same way because we would have made some progress on a number of things. And just finally, if somebody couldn't have attended here today, for whatever reason, uh, do you have any message for them? [00:04:30] If you can come to Wellington to come down for the day or the weekend, we've had a actually, at the store. We've had a number of, uh, school students from who have come down and even a person from Gisborne and a person from Palmerston North who've come by the stall and got in a sticker. Um, so I'd encourage people to come down for the weekend because it really will be. It's It's just such a nice feeling and I I mean, I mean, another point from a personal point of view is, um when I was in Auckland and [00:05:00] I went to my first big gay out and this was maybe 10 years ago, I actually felt like overwhelmed at first because I hadn't seen so many queer people all together, sort of relatively like, just in a happy, relaxed atmosphere. Uh, but then I warmed up to it and really got into it, and that's what I encourage one of the people at our store. They just just be in it for a while and you warm up and really enjoy it. Um, because it's really important. We have spaces like this as well as ensuring that all the organisations that play a [00:05:30] part in ensuring this freedom and progress are here to to, you know, promote and and represent themselves to people too. So, um do come down for the weekend. Wellington is a nice place to go.
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