Kāpiti Gay PrideNZ 2019 retrospective

The audio recording, broadcast on Coast Access Radio in early 2020, offers a wide-ranging reflection on significant events, people, and themes captured by PrideNZ during 2019. Hosted by Tony Reed, the programme features a dialogue with PrideNZ founder Gareth Watkins and his partner Roger Smith, highlighting key moments from Aotearoa New Zealand’s rainbow communities throughout the 2010s. The retrospective marks the tenth anniversary of PrideNZ's digital presence and its milestone of over 800 audio items, now transcribed using artificial intelligence to increase accessibility despite limitations in recognising the New Zealand accent.

A central focus of the episode is the Kāpiti Pride Parade, affectionately dubbed the "world’s unofficial shortest pride parade", which takes place along a pedestrian crossing. The recording includes candid reflections from participants, notably Ann-Marie Stapp, who discusses navigating the event with multiple health challenges, and a young member of Kapiti Youth Support, who underscores the importance of inclusive peer spaces in affirming identity. These personal stories reflect the community-driven, accessible, and celebratory spirit of the event.

The programme contrasts the Kāpiti parade’s warmth with the fraught dynamics surrounding the 2019 Auckland Pride Parade, which was reimagined as a protest march - OurMarch - due to tensions over police and corporate involvement. Jan Logie, a Member of Parliament, shares insights from participating in both Auckland and Wellington pride events, noting the complex but necessary discussions around inclusion, solidarity, and accountability within the rainbow movement.

Another powerful moment in the retrospective is the reflection on the 15 March 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, which led to the postponement of Wellington's Pride Parade and cancellation of associated events. Reverend Dr Susan Jones' sermon at St Andrew’s on the Terrace poignantly connects the grief and marginalisation experienced by Muslim, Jewish, and rainbow communities. The recording underscores how tragedy can illuminate shared experiences of otherness and the importance of inter-community solidarity.

The programme also highlights the global significance of New Zealand’s visibility and leadership in rainbow rights. Sarah McBride from the United States and academic Andrew Reynolds both speak at the reopening of Parliament’s Rainbow Room. They celebrate Aotearoa’s contributions to LGBTQIA+ representation and rights, including the historic election of Georgina Beyer and the flying of rainbow, intersex, transgender, and bisexual flags at Parliament, first during IdaHOBIT 2018 and again during the ILGA World Conference in 2019.

An especially evocative segment features the local group Stitch and Butch, whose yarn-bombing projects brighten public spaces while fostering queer friendships and community care. Their work is described as both a creative act and a form of mutual support in the aftermath of Wellington’s earthquakes. The importance of craft, memory, and public storytelling continues through reflections on the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt, with activist Richard Benge discussing its origins and emotional resonance during the height of the AIDS crisis.

The retrospective closes with tributes to influential figures such as Marilyn Waring, recently appointed a Dame, who speaks about being publicly outed in the 1970s and how their visibility helped empower others in the community. The recording affirms the significance of history, public storytelling, and the power of representation.

Through a mix of interviews, reflections, and archival clips, this retrospective underscores PrideNZ’s commitment to preserving and amplifying rainbow voices. It captures both celebration and struggle, documenting a decade of activism, cultural shifts, and the continued push for inclusivity, visibility, and justice within Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse rainbow communities.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Andrew Reynolds Ann-Marie Stapp Bella Simpson Gareth Watkins Jan Logie Louisa Wall Mari North Marilyn Waring Rev Dr Susan Jones Richard Benge Roger Smith Sarah McBride Tony Reed

2010s, andrew reynolds, ann-marie stapp, aotearoa new zealand, bella simpson, coast access radio, community radio, gareth watkins, jan logie, kapiti coast district, kapiti gay (coast access radio), kapiti youth support, louisa wall, mari north, marilyn waring, pridenz.com, radio, rev dr susan jones, richard benge, roger smith, sarah mcbride, tony reed

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