Thu 10 Nov 2016 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
With the Auckland Pride Parade registrations now open, both Corrections and Police - whose involvement in past parades has been contentious - have confirmed that they will be applying to be take part in February. Corrections staff march in uniform at the 2015 Auckland Pride Parade. (Pic: Andrea/GayNZ.com) A spokesperson for Corrections has confirmed today that “Corrections does intend to make an application to be part of the 2017 Auckland Pride Parade”. The Police have also confirmed they will be making an application, with Inspector Tracy Phillips saying “We certainly will be at Pride 2017 better and brighter than ever”. The inclusion of Corrections in the Parade was a vexed topic at an Auckland Pride hui held this June, with No Pride in Prisons among those unimpressed with the decision to let them participate. No Pride in Prisons held a protest rally during this year’s parade and then staged a sit-down protest, calling out the Auckland Pride Board for its decision to allow Police and Corrections to march. The Auckland Pride Board Co-chair Kirsten Sibbit says that regarding the inclusion of Police and Corrections in this year’s march “It's early days and Auckland Pride has had no formal application to participate in the Auckland Pride Parade from either the New Zealand Police or the Department of Corrections, as yet. Should applications from either organisation be received, Auckland Pride will address each in the same way as all other applications.” The Board have “entry criteria that apply to all organisations wishing to participate in the Auckland Pride Parade. “To participate, organisations must meet or exceed the criteria. It's possible that some organisations may be asked to provide additional information to support their application, where the Board is unsure whether or not the criteria have been met. “It's early days and Auckland Pride has had no formal application to participate in the Auckland Pride Parade from either the New Zealand Police or the Department of Corrections, as yet. Should applications from either organisation be received, Auckland Pride will address each in the same way as all other applications.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 10th November 2016 - 6:56pm