Current Mr Gay New Zealand Troy Williams Work is underway to find a new organiser for the Mr Gay New Zealand competition. The event has previously been run by the previous year’s winner, and lead sponsor Wireless Nation says it only stepped in this year in the last minute to ensure it went ahead. The company doesn’t feel it’s appropriate to be run by a commercial organisation and thinks it should go back to the community. It says it’s still happy to act as a sponsor, given the goals of the new organisers are to serve the community and further tolerance and acceptance, and to provide support and advice. There has been some interest in taking it on, which is currently being worked through. GayNZ.com Daily News expects to have more on this next week. Wireless Nation’s General Manager is former Mr Gay New Zealand and Mr Gay World Andy Derleth. He is hopeful a community organisation is able to give the event a future. He says it has put New Zealand and its human rights advancement onto the world stage. “They see a proud gay man, standing up publicly, sharing how good and successful the life of a gay man can be,” he says. “Through media interviews and at events, Mr Gay New Zealand can further encourage tolerance and acceptance, like we did at the select committee for marriage equality.” Wireless Nation says change is possible, as the organiser could decide not to affiliate it with Mr Gay World if they chose, and instead keep it as a New Zealand-only event. Or the winner could go on to represent New Zealand in the global competition. Current Mr Gay New Zealand Troy Williams pulled out of this year's Mr Gay World, and organisers have since acknowledged he event was not up to scratch - but have promised to ensure that is not the case in 2015. If no organiser is found, there will not be a 2015 Mr Gay New Zealand competition, which Derleth says would be a pity. “I really hope that someone picks it up for 2015, just like Wireless Nation did in 2014 to keep it going.” Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Andy Derleth at Wireless Nation: +64 9 282 4816 or andy.derleth@wnation.net.nz
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 5th December 2014 - 8:30am