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I'm Roxy cos I'm co-chair of out Wellington Incorporated. We run Wellington Pride Festival to And today we are at Eva Beaver on Dexon Street for our 2.0 can you describe what pride 2.0 is 2.0 it was it was born off the back of the horrific events of the 15th of March. Um, our original out in the Park Pride Day was slated for the 16th of March, But obviously, [00:00:30] due to many, many factors grief, uh, just the inappropriateness or the perceived inappropriateness of holding a celebration on a day where the nation is in mourning and also public safety. We had to make the very difficult call to postpone the event. Um, and we've been through a couple of different iterations trying to work in with the Cuba Duper Street Festival, which has also been moved indoors due to public safety. So here we are, at of the Wellington Pride stage, doing our little indoors pride [00:01:00] And what what's gonna happen today? Uh, so today we've got, uh, just a selection of performers that would have been at the original out in the park day. Um, we've got taco drums which is that massive noise right there. Uh, we've also got drag. We've got, uh, poetry, live music. There's a little bit of something for everyone. How hard was it to organise? Uh, today? Because we're only a couple of weeks out from from those massacres. Yeah, it was a lot of sleepless nights. Um, very difficult, especially because [00:01:30] with the current climate the way it is and large scale public festivals, nobody really knew what was going on. This is a first for everyone. Um, and we're all sort of struggling through it together. Um, but we all we all managed to make it work. And I'm happy that Cuba duer managed to pug through and make it work as well with a few slight adjustments. So it's been a time. What are you looking forward to the most this afternoon? I'm just looking forward to having our community get together and celebrate, and it's It's so hard [00:02:00] for us to, especially the volunteers on the committee that have put over a year's worth of blood, sweat and tears into this and all of the sponsors and the community at large that has put so much into this festival. and the out in the park there. And then for us to not be able to present it the way that we want it, it's I'm just really looking forward to coming together with our community and celebrating in the small way that we can. So, Drew, the last time we spoke was at the launch of Wellington Pride, [00:02:30] and that was a couple of weeks ago. And, um, between then and now, there has been some huge, huge events. Can you tell me, um, what's happened? Sure, I think. Yeah. Like a few weeks ago when we were launching the Pride Festival, we were worried we were going to have a bit of rain that might throw things out for the and out in the park. And I guess some things that happened in the following week, none of us could have anticipated. You know, we had a little bit of, uh, public attack [00:03:00] from groups in our community whose doesn't in line with our inclusiveness kind of policy. Um, they were making, you know, big bold statements about young lesbians being banned from out in the park. When, in fact, we'd said because you say hateful things about um, trans women and are not inclusive of them. Then you can't have a stall out in the park. It was quite a different thing. And they did that spin. So there we were, managing that. And, um, we were really [00:03:30] clear that, you know, out in the park at Wellington, everything we do is inclusive of all of the many gorgeous colours that make up our extended rainbow. Um, so there was the weather. There was that. And then there was just the mind blowing events that happened in Christchurch. The tragic, horrible, hate filled, um, thing down there that just blew all of us out of the water, irrespective of pride in the and it really brought to the [00:04:00] fore. Um, the the bigotry, the hate, the unnecessary stuff across aotearoa towards many minority communities, including our own. So we we had to make a really difficult decision, and we sought the police's advice because obviously safety First, we needed to put members of our own communities along with the wider Wellington community, who are coming along to celebrate pride with us ahead of everything else. So that's what so the the [00:04:30] mosque attacks happened on Friday afternoon, out on the park and the were due for Saturday. Yeah, they were, um we were scheduled for the very next day, and our rain day was just the day after that. The Sunday So we, um, just made the decision to really clearly say that it was cancelled because the advice we were getting from, um, the police was they had no idea what this looked like or what it was going to look like. They knew that in other places, [00:05:00] they were often copycats or just people who thought they might give it a go and express their own hate towards minority communities. And they actually, like called, called me back a few times on that Friday night to say they were really pleased that we decided to cancel rather than postpone at this point, because they recognised our community, as you know, a minority community, too. And there was some manifesto that apparently named our communities, so their, um their support was, you know, safety [00:05:30] first and all of our well being ahead of anything else. Really? We got a bit of pushback. There were people posting stuff on Facebook. Um, we know that people need to express. You know their grief or manage how they're feeling around the change in circumstances. So we just tried to let that, um, just let let that sit there and and and for everyone to sit in some discomfort around it. And then other members of our communities were acknowledging that although they realised [00:06:00] it was a real tough decision and were a little disappointed they supported that decision and thanked us. So it was a nice balance and conversation. So how does it work and and what What is it, like having to cancel something so kind of immediately? Because I imagine there are so many things kind of, um, in train at that point in time. Yeah. Like many, many months of work for all of us on the committee, A lot of sleep deprivation amongst us. Um, and a lot of people beyond [00:06:30] us were involved, you know, been doing many months of organising for both the and out in the park and other elements of the festival. Um, it was really it was pretty heartbreaking. It was, um but yeah, like I said alongside that, that was so the thing that needed to be done. Um And I guess then we just went into the mode as a committee of OK, so there are many, many people across our communities telling us they want to come together and love and pride, what can we do? [00:07:00] So we started really quickly to have conversations with the team that were organising Cuba duper. They were super supportive. We came up with a whole lot of ideas around having a stage out in Park, some stores up, um, Eva, Eva Street and the Lane Ways off there as well as, um, the still being a part of, like within Cuba. And that was all tracking along nicely. Then they were in a similar position to us. They got an independent, um, risk assessment done and [00:07:30] had to make the difficult call to move Cuba duper indoors. So we totally feel for them. We know what it's like to have to make those decisions, and we totally respect and to what what they've done for today. And we're really grateful we can have a pride stage with some of the out in the park performers here at Eva Beaver. So tell me about the event today, so we're, um, calling at the Wellington Pride stage. You know, um, Cuba Duer indoors, and it's here at Beaver. We've got, [00:08:00] um, nine or 10 of the original performers that were scheduled for out in the park are available today to perform, So they're going to join us. Uh, free entry, obviously. Um, like everything else is Cuba Duer. That's moved indoors. And it's just it's really nice for us as a committee, I think, to have been able to bring some small celebration of pride and to do it in love. Um, this soon after having to cancel the events of [00:08:30] 16 March. Um, yeah. Gosh, like I guess the one thing that's really special to me and really important, I think is that our are going to be opening this event, so we're gonna we're gonna be held in a really awesome space. Um, and that's an integral part of out in the park. And and our community, that's, you know, really awesome to be starting off with today. Just finally, on a personal note. [00:09:00] What effect did the massacres have on you? Oh, gosh. Gareth I I I've been saying to people all the emojis really so, um so brought to light that, um all the underlying stuff that is people pretend doesn't exist here in a And I'm just really hoping that, um, the conversations that people have started to have [00:09:30] will continue to be had. And, um, no matter how much hate that terrorist had, um, that and these conversations will keep going and things will change. And we perhaps it's not gonna be an overnight process, but we will walk that path to what people have pretended. Society is like here, and yeah, I've very long time had no tolerance for hate, and I hope that that [00:10:00] becomes the new normal. So, um, I'm a 19 year old singer, Um, based in upper heart. Um, I sing my own originals as well as do covers, and I am here to perform on the pride stage at festival today. Now, you were originally going to be at out in the park because of the tragedy that happened on Friday down in Christchurch. Um, it it wasn't a safe environment, nor did it feel [00:10:30] right, um, emotionally and mentally to, um, have the event carry on the weekend, the day after that kind of tragedy were to happen. Um So, uh, it got postponed. And, um, this is one alternative as to what's happening for us to still be able to celebrate who we are. What? What? What impact did the, um, Christchurch massacres have on you? Um, I was upset with what happened down there, so I [00:11:00] felt that our country, by from that tragedy, came together a lot stronger to, um, be one community. Um, in terms of the actual tragedy that happened, I was very upset to hear what had happened. And, um, I wanted to show support in any which way I can. I ended up writing a couple of songs out of it and hopefully record and release sometime soon in support of the Islamic community down in Christchurch and over and over the country to to to [00:11:30] be able to have that kind of release through writing. Uh um, music or a song? Um, must be very kind of therapeutic. Yeah. Yes, it does have that effect, especially for for me personally. Um, I can't speak for everybody, but I can speak for myself when I say, um, writing a song or writing music after a certain, um after a certain event, can really, Um, have my keep my mind at peace. [00:12:00] Yeah, And so today what What are you performing on stage? So today I'll be performing cover a cover set. Um, as I didn't prepare myself quick enough to do an original. Um, however, I am doing a 20 minute cover set of some pop songs and musical theatre. Um, and a couple of, uh, ballads as well. Yeah. And what what? What what's it like performing on stage? It gives me a rush. I mean, I. [00:12:30] I used to say music was my passion. And as much as music is a passion of mine, performance is more my number one, my number one thing I love being on stage. It just gives me such a rush, Whether it's 10 people or 100 people or 1000 people. However many people there are it just It just gives me it. It it keeps me engaged in what I do. Um, and with with my own music, it just keeps me. It just keeps me so engaged and yeah, [00:13:00] and in terms of musical and performance, Uh, what? Where do you see yourself going in the next couple of years? Well, um, after Because I'm currently studying my bachelor of commercial music at Massey. That's my final year. This year, um, I'll be going to do my postgraduate, um, diploma and secondary teaching. So I want to teach music. Um, however, um, my original dream was that I wanted to be, like most of the New Zealand Maori stars that we have in New Zealand [00:13:30] now, like, um, Macy, Stan Walker, They They're just a couple of my inspirations of where I want to strive to be when it comes to releasing my own music. And, um, and then also like to have an ambition to, like, take Maori music and Maori culture more into an international level. Um, taking it to a place where, you know, uh, taking yeah, taking it to a place where, you know, you've got the mainstream, um, community and per [00:14:00] se, um, and you've got them listening to it and them feeling something from it. And I mean, that's probably my number. One thing is, as long as they're feeling my music that that's that's a plus for me. That's the one. Uh, I'm Steven here with a beaver today for, um, the little mini pride stage that they're putting on it part of And that and Yeah. So you you you run Ivy Bar. What was, [00:14:30] um what was the mood like on the Friday, um, of the of the massacres? Um, it was a very strange night. Um, we had an event called biohazard, which was a hyper queen shows first ever all hyper queen show. So we had lots of people that came out to support this great event. Um, we had a really great MC, Judy, who we, you know, was really respectful because of what happened and managed to keep the mood respectful, but still had a good night. Um, afterwards, people were still out, but it was just you could just feel the somberness [00:15:00] and sort of tension in the air. Yeah. So people were still out, but it wasn't comfortable. Yeah. And how have the last two weeks been since we were about two weeks after the attacks. Now, um, two weeks. It's been a bit of a mixed bag. Everyone again is is a bit shaken by it, but we've also had, um we had the conference which brought a lot of international people to the city so they were still out having a good time. Um, last week we had a really busy week down at Ivy, which was nice to see people still getting out and still living their lives, which has [00:15:30] been a challenge, and some people haven't, but, um, you know, thankfully, the Wellington committee still carried on, and they ran the youth ball, which I hear was a huge success. Last Saturday, they had about 100 and 50 youth attended to Papa, which, you know, still gave them their chance to have their pride in that. So it's really cool. And the festival itself ran for over two weeks, So there were still lots of going on. We just missed out on the big the big, sparkly stuff, like out in the park. And, yeah, on a personal note, um, what impact did the [00:16:00] massacres in Christchurch have on you? Um, quite a lot. I'm from Canterbury. I lived in Christchurch for six years, so it was a real shock that that could happen to us to New Zealand. Um, it was concerning to me, um, you know, running a where we do cater to minorities, which we, unfortunately, are a target to know that if someone can do it here now that potentially others could do it in the future. So, um, it was just really sombre [00:16:30] and really distressing, I guess. Just trying to, you know, we spent the next day with the staff making contingency plans for eventualities if, if things were to happen. And it was just a very weird day to be, Yeah, creating these things, which we shouldn't have to do. So so you've actually, um, what? Up to your security and things like that. Uh, we have over the last few weeks, we've already had, uh, reasonable security. We've, um, had extra guards on on the Saturday night and the following week [00:17:00] with, uh, out in the park after party and that we increased security, um, very stringent on bad checks. And And that and just Yeah, so we'll settle down eventually. But I think at the moment, everyone just needs that, uh, to be able to feel safe. Um, and we always do the best we can. Um yeah. Killed everybody. Then I had in my head. Um, I just wanna, um, extend, uh, welcome to your [00:17:30] on this beautiful, sunny day. So we just like to like I said, extend you a warm welcome. And as protocol dictates, just, um, open up with a song and then the day can go on. So [00:18:00] [00:18:30] [00:19:00] [00:19:30] so I Hi, everyone. Welcome along to Eva Beaver and the Pride Festival. It's great to see you all here. We've got an amazing line up for you today. First of all, I would just like to read something out like you. Our thoughts and love remain with all of our Muslim, [00:20:00] their communities and the people of Christchurch. Thank you for your support and understanding since the cancellation of this year's pride and out in the park today, our LGBT TIQ plus community supporters and allies are invited to come together in love and in pride. So today you can enjoy some of the performances that [00:20:30] were scheduled for out in the park right here at Eva Beaver.
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