Picture by Adam Baines The tirelessly hand-crafted Pasefika LGBTQI Youth Float has been judged the best of the Auckland Pride Parade. In a split decision, the entry which took more than 1,000 hours of hand weaving has beaten three other commended entries; Unitec’s Rocket Ship, First Scene’s Vintage Circus and LYC’s Colours of the Pacific, to claim the honour. The award was judged by the Parade's Head Float Designer Dion Boothby, Ponsonby Business Association General Manager Vivienne Rosenberg and Parade Director Richard Taki. Taki says the Pasefika LGBTQI Youth Float was clearly successful in its mission to “nurture and develop the future generations” and in “giving Pasefika LGBTQI Youth the opportunity to be visible, to have a voice, and to show they exist among the Rainbow Community.” It was put together by combining past and present, to explore the Parade theme of ‘Time’. Elders and young people worked together with traditional and modern materials, while sharing their stories, knowledge and journeys. Picture by Adam Baines It cost almost $4,000 to create, along with thirty dedicated people weaving for three days. Many learned traditional weaving techniques for the first time. In all 92 people took part from Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Fiji, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, and even Jamaica, plus a group who had travelled from Wellington especially to participate. It wins a trip to San Francisco for two people. The winning float’s organiser Phylesha Brown-Acton is surprised and delighted. “They did say to themselves, ‘How are you feeling? Is it up to par with the flash lights and sound gear on other floats?’” says Brown-Acton. “The response was, ‘It’s made from the love of our bare hands’.” The trip for two to Hawaii for a lucky Pride volunteer was drawn from an ice bucket containing more than 110 names during a thank you function at Poof Bar. The lucky winner was British tourist Lauren Wray, who had volunteered as a Parade Marshall soon after arriving in New Zealand for a summer holiday – which has now been extended.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 4th March 2014 - 2:13pm