Mon 21 Oct 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The US Ambassador to New Zealand David Huebner has been given a rousing farewell from Auckland’s gay community, who presented him and husband Duane McWaine with some special pieces of Aotearoa - while raising a vast amount of cash. Huebner and McWaine (centre) with Gresham Bradley and Skot Barnett from GABA The couple, who are due to wrap up their time in New Zealand after their four year stay, were the guests of honour at a special Gay Auckland Business Association (GABA) Charity Auction at The Langham tonight. The pounamu GABA gave the couple a pair of stunning pounamu, specially commissioned from master carver Jason Nathan, which were “carved from the same stone to keep them spiritually together”. It was explained that they “fit together perfectly, but are to be worn separately,” before the couple was honoured with a special waiata and standing ovation. “I have never received gifts like that and they will be the favourites that we carry back from New Zealand,” Huebner said. Labour MP Louisa Wall also presented the pair with a blanket which bears the message “He Mana To Te Tangata Marenatanga” which translates to “The Right of the People to Marry”. She thanked Huebner and McWaine for their support, input and friendship during their New Zealand stint. She said Huebner has been a strong advocate for both youth and the rainbow community, and revealed he will leave behind seed money which will allow the first-ever LGBT youth leadership forum in New Zealand, which will happen during next year’s Auckland Pride. David Huebner will clearly miss NZ In a witty address, the Ambassador said he was worried the process of saying goodbye would be “as never-ending as Cher’s farewell tour”. Huebner said he was ‘deliriously lucky’ he was sent to New Zealand and was grateful to have shared the experience with his husband of nearly 24 years. “We were warmly accepted in New Zealand as a gay couple representing the US.” He told the crowd he is in denial about leaving, and said he will pretend he isn’t, as he hasn’t actually had ‘the call’ from the White House yet. He joked he has told President Obama he will have to send in the marines to ‘extract him’, a prospect which went down well with the wolf-whistling audience. McWaine and Huebner were treated to a special America-inspired show by red-white-and-blue clad Auckland divas Buckwheat, Tess Tickle and Venus Mantrapp, while the Ambassador was also made a lifetime GABA member. Auctioneer Michelle Maitland in action, with her support crew The Charity Auction was incredibly successful – although the confirmed figure is not yet available it raised around $40,000, which will be poured back into Auckland’s GLBT community. Special marriage equality pieces were the hot ticket items, with Time front cover styled banners celebrating the passage of the bill, and signed by Wall, Kevin Hague, John Key, Tau Henare and Maurice Williamson, selling for $2,100 after heady bidding. MP Jacinda Ardern’s donation of a marriage equality poster signed by Louisa Wall also set off a bidding war, ironically between her Central Auckland competitor Nikki Kaye and Auckland Pride co-chair Megan Cunningham-Adams. A determined Cunningham-Adams took home the piece for $1,600. However Wall said she could provide another for Kaye, who was a staunch advocate for marriage equality within the National Party, for a similar price. Kaye’s own donated item of a dinner hosted by the MP at SPQR was another which set off a furious bidding war. It sold for $1,100, prompting her to quickly add two more dinners, helping bump up the total raised. Tim Smith hard at work bidding for himself and partner Tamati Coffey Former GABA President Glenn Sim’s donation of a two week Bali stay was so popular it went for $1,800, and a second lot was also offered. A walk-on part on Shortland St went under the hammer for $1,500, while audience member Tamati Coffey and his partner Tim Smith were inspired to add a last minute item - a New Zealand’s Got Talent VIP visit which went for $1,300. Rounding out a rather circular night of bidding, Coffey himself picked a pair of Rainbow tinted Louisa Wall prints. He assured her they won’t be placed above his bed. (All pics thanks to Andrea)
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 21st October 2013 - 12:10am