About
Our history
The Wellington Pride Parade has a deep history rooted in New Zealand's fight for LGBTQIA+ rights. It began in 1986 with the Newtown Lesbian and Gay Fair, themed "A Fair for a Fair Law," during the campaign for Homosexual Law Reform. Organised by Des Smith, these early events were vital in the fight to decriminalise homosexuality, reflecting the resilience and solidarity of the community. Since then, the parade has evolved into a vibrant annual celebration, becoming a highlight of the Wellington Pride Festival.
What started as a pivotal moment in activism has grown into a powerful symbol of support, celebrating the diversity and strength of the Rainbow whānau while honoring its activist roots and continuing the pursuit of equality and inclusion.
Wellington Pride Parade Trust
In August 2023, following a pause during the pandemic, a new trust was formed to revive the Wellington Pride Parade. With support from community members, Rainbow groups, and organisations, the volunteer-led team brought the event back to its roots within the community. In March 2024, they delivered a spectacular event that drew over 15,000 people to the heart of our iconic city. The Trust was established with several key objectives: to be community-led, engage with mana whenua, support the Festival, listen to the community, and maintain transparency in leadership and finances. This ensures that the kaupapa of the event remains a true reflection of the people it seeks to support.
Our Ethos
Wellington Pride Parade is deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that celebrates and supports the Rainbow community in all its forms. Our ethos is built upon the values of respect, equality, and a shared sense of belonging, ensuring that everyone in our city feels seen, heard, and valued.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
We firmly believe that an event like the Wellington Pride Parade must be community-led, with active engagement with the communities it aims to uplift. Our vision is to create a celebration that truly reflects the diversity and values of our Rainbow whānau. To ensure this, we established a charitable trust, which requires us to operate with full transparency in both our finances and governance. This framework holds us accountable to the community, ensuring that the planning and design of our events are shaped by the voices and needs of those we serve.
A crucial aspect of our work is building strong relationships with mana whenua to ensure our events honor and enhance the mana of Māori. We are passionate about working closely with Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, meeting regularly with representatives to ensure their input is woven into the fabric of our celebrations. This collaboration helps us create events that are inclusive and mana-enhancing for Māori, particularly for our Takatāpui community.
Our commitment to safety and inclusivity is unwavering. We want our Rainbow and Takatāpui people to feel safe, free, and empowered to express themselves openly at all our events. To support this, we partner with Māori Wardens, whose presence helps us ensure that everyone can celebrate in a safe and welcoming environment. Additionally, the Trust reserves the right to exclude individuals or groups from the Parade if their presence jeopardises the safety or well-being of Trans, Non-Binary, and Takatāpui individuals. Our priority is to create a space where all members of the community feel protected, celebrated, and respected.
If you have any questions or concerns, please raise them directly with one of our trustees by emailing kiaora@wellingtonprideparade.co.nz.
our TEAM
Our Trustees and Organising Team are all part of Wellington's Rainbow and Takatāpui communities and all have active roles within the community.
Jack Rainey (Trustee)
He/Him
Jack manages Everybody Eats Wellington and volunteers at The Compassion Kitchen and the wider community. He’s a chef and hospitality pro, eager to help with the Wellington Pride Parade. He’s been with his partner for 17 years, and they have been in a Civil Union for 12 years.
Sam Mackay (Chair)
he / him
Dr Sam Mackay is the Chair of the Trust, and leads our sponsorship and fundraising work. Sam has worked in international education in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, and is a mean card shark.
Jeremy Baker (Trustee)
He/Him
Jeremy has lived in the heart of Te Aro for three decades, and is committed to building a strong Rainbow community in our city. He’s interested in political action for our community, celebrating our diversity and lives, and likes to run the occasional party. Jeremy is Event Director for the Parade, supporting our team of volunteer leads.
Jesse-Damon Bond
Jesse has joined the team this year and wants to help and be involved with not just the queer community, but the wider Wellington community as a whole. Jesse is a digital artist, born here in Wellington with strong administration and customer service background.
Samantha Rhiannon Ashton
She/Her
Sam is a brand and marketing strategist hailing from Ōtepoti, and has worked in various Wellington creative agencies since finishing her design degree in 2015. With a love of performance and music, she has recently moved from gigging regularly around Wellington as a rock cover vocalist, to writing originals for her newly formed punk-rock band, Lazy Suzan. Sam loves project management tools and organised fun and looks forward to joining the crew for the 2025 Wellington Pride Parade season.
Jack Tankersley
he/they
Jack Tankersley (he/they) Is a Palmerston North born and raised theatre kid and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Performing Arts (Management) at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in Wellington. With a passion for the events industry, Jack brings a wide array of experience and skills to the team and is committed to providing opportunities to everyone. Jack is currently the Stage Manager and Administrator for Palmy Drag Fest which has just run for its fourth year in a row.
Joshua Neylan
He/Him
Joshua is a driven and creative game developer, currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Victoria University. With a passion for helping others develop their skills, he loves to lead teams in creating exceptional games. He actively promotes positivity and inclusivity, striving to create a welcoming environment for the Rainbow community.
Have your say
This event is a welcoming space for all our whānau to celebrate together. Here’s how you can share your voice.
Community Hui
Before the Parade, we hold multiple hui to give community members a safe space to share their views and provide feedback on how we can enhance the event.
Online Submissions
You can share your feedback with us anytime using our online form, and we are dedicated to providing you with a response.
Direct Email
We've created an email address monitored by our community engagement team. If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas to share, feel free to reach out to us via email.
Join the parade
This is a celebration for our whole whānau. Here’s how you can get involved and be part of it!
Register Your Group
Get your team, club, organisation, whanāu, squad or band to join the parade and show their support for Wellington's Rainbow and Takatāpui communities.
Become a Partner
The Parade has a number of opportunities for businesses to show their genuine support for the Rainbow and Takatāpui communities.
Volunteer With Us
Join our amazing team and help make the parade and street celebration unforgettable! We have a passionate volunteer team ready to bring this event to life. Be part of something exciting - your energy will make all the difference!