Kāpiti Gay PrideNZ 2024 retrospective

The retrospective programme originally aired on Coast Access Radio, featuring host Tony Reed in conversation with Gareth Watkins, founder of PrideNZ. Together, they reflect on some of the most significant moments captured by PrideNZ throughout 2024, providing an overview of Aotearoa New Zealand’s rainbow communities during the year. The recording blends commemoration, activism, cultural preservation, and historical reflection, offering a richly layered snapshot of a pivotal year.

The retrospective opens with a poignant remembrance: the 60th anniversary of the death of Charles Allan Aberhart, a gay man killed in 1964. Held in Christchurch’s Hagley Park, the memorial was the first time the Aberhart whānau had spoken publicly about Allan. Speakers at the event, including Denis Aberhart and Nicole Skews-Poole, conveyed both the enduring pain of this hate crime and a renewed commitment to honour Allan through the establishment of a fund supporting rainbow communities. This tribute highlighted both historical injustice and contemporary efforts toward restorative justice and community healing.

The programme then turns to 2024's Pride events in Wellington, notably the annual Pride Hīkoi, which focused on themes of indigenous empowerment, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and solidarity with Palestine. Awhi Marshall’s address during the event encouraged attendees to use their grief as a catalyst for activism. Marshall’s speech exemplified how Pride events increasingly serve as platforms connecting local and global justice movements. The broadcast also included audio from chants and public speeches that underlined the political dimensions of the gathering.

Healthcare access, particularly in relation to gender-affirming treatments, was another major theme of 2024. The broadcast discussed rising concerns over governmental threats to limit access to puberty blockers, connecting this to the international spread of the controversial Cass Review. Figures such as Brian Tamaki and former ACT MP Stephen Franks were mentioned as part of a broader conservative backlash. Watkins and Reed considered the importance of public broadcasting and documentary work in preserving and informing public discourse on such issues.

One of the more intimate interviews included in the retrospective was with Grant Robertson, reflecting on his retirement from national politics in 2024. Robertson offered a personal account of his political journey as a rainbow-identifying MP, including challenges faced during the 2013 and 2014 Labour Party leadership bids. Robertson's remarks explored themes of internalised homophobia, stereotyping, and the difference between tolerance and genuine acceptance.

International connections were further emphasised through an interview with Judy and Dennis Shepard, parents of Matthew Shepard. Their reflections on transforming grief into activism—through the founding of the Matthew Shepard Foundation - provided a global context for ongoing LGBTQIA+ struggles. They also shared a personal poem written by Matthew, which was recently featured in a choral work performed for the first time in Aotearoa by the Wellington and Christchurch Youth Choirs.

The retrospective also celebrated the legacy of the late Georgina Beyer, whose personal taonga were formally gifted to Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum. Karen Morris, Beyer’s sister, recounted her first meeting with Georgina, and described the significance of having Beyer’s belongings preserved and displayed. This moment reinforced the importance of tangible heritage in telling rainbow histories.

Another segment focused on the Rainbow List Project, led by Kerryn Pollock of Heritage New Zealand. The project integrates rainbow narratives into official heritage listings, with places like the Duigan building in Whanganui recognised for their connection to historical events involving queer individuals. Pollock emphasised that even seemingly small or fleeting stories are essential to constructing a fuller, more inclusive historical narrative.

The programme concluded with audio from New Zealand’s inaugural World AIDS Day Parliamentary Breakfast in December 2024. David Miller, an early leader in HIV/AIDS work both domestically and internationally, reflected on the courage of those who responded to the epidemic at its height. Miller acknowledged the historic contributions of Aotearoa's rainbow communities, from law reform to harm reduction, in reducing stigma and safeguarding public health.

Altogether, the 2024 retrospective captures the richness, complexity, and resilience of rainbow communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, as seen through the lens of PrideNZ’s archival work. It is both a record of achievements and a call to remain vigilant, visible, and engaged in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

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.

Awhi Marshall David Miller Denis Aberhart Dennis Shepard Gareth Watkins Grant Robertson Judy Shepard Karen Morris Kerryn Pollock Nicole Skews-Poole Tony Reed

2020s, aotearoa new zealand, awhi marshall, coast access radio, community radio, david miller, denis aberhart, dennis shepard, gareth watkins, grant robertson, judy shepard, kapiti coast district, kapiti gay (coast access radio), karen morris, kerryn pollock, matthew shepard, nicole skews-poole, pridenz.com, radio, tony reed