BNZ joins growing list of companies pulling out of Auckland Pride Parade

Wednesday, 21 November 2018

The parade became mired in controversy when police were banned from marching in uniform. (Video first published in Jan 2019)

Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) is the latest organisation to pull out of Auckland's Pride Parade, after parade organisers said they would ban police from marching in uniform.

The company on Wednesday stated on Twitter it would not participate in the 2019 Auckland Pride Parade.

'Our involvement in Pride is led by our rainbow community - as of today, the Pride@BNZ network has decided not to participate in the 2019 event.'

BNZ stated they would still be involved in Pride in 'other ways' and would be attending the Wellington Pride Parade in March next year.

Auckland Pride Board chairwoman Cissy Rock said it remained committed to the parade despite organisations pulling out.

* Auckland Pride board could be rolled over ban on police uniforms in parade

* The other side of the uniform ban: The Kiwis who don't want police at Pride**

Participants in the 2018 Auckland Pride Parade along Ponsonby Rd.

Vodafone New Zealand and Ponsonby Business Association also announced they were pulling out of the Auckland Pride Parade on Wednesday.

PBA general manager Viv Rosenberg said its decision to stop funding the event came after the Pride board banned the New Zealand Police from marching in the 2018 parade in uniform.

Vodafone NZ Rainbow Whānau said, after consultation with colleagues, the belief of walking the talk of inclusion may mean in this case, not walking at all.

'It's simply the right thing to do to stand with the police in this instance, as we would with any excluded group, and insist on inclusion for all,' the statement said.

But Auckland Pride Board chairwoman Cissy Rock said in a media release on Wednesday morning that it remained committed to the parade despite organisations pulling out.

A rainbow police car joins the 2018 Auckland Pride Parade.

'The Pride parade is so much more than its corporate sponsors or Government institutions,' Rock said.

'It is about our rainbow community coming together to both celebrate and fight for a future where everyone is free from systemic discrimination.'

Rosenberg said PBA would support any Pride parade in Ponsonby on the basis it didn't discriminate against any individual, group, or organisation that wanted to participate.

'The PBA stakeholders view the New Zealand Police as a very important part of the community,' she said.

'While we appreciate this is a disappointing outcome, we cannot support an event that excludes a valued member of our community in the capacity of which they want to be represented.'

Rosenberg said the association had supported the parade since 2013. She would not say how much funding it provided.

On Tuesday, the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust pulled funding from the parade after a unanimous decision at a special meeting to discuss the issue.

'The trustees consider Pride's decision to refuse the NZ Police the right to march in uniform to be contrary to the trust's key purpose which is to maintain a fund available to build strength through diversity within the LGBTQI+ community in New Zealand,' a trust press release said.

Westpac and the Defence Force have also decided against participating in the event because of the board's decision to ban police from marching in uniform.

A Westpac spokesman said the decision was made by employees who represent and advocate for its rainbow community.

'They have advised us the recent decision regarding uniformed police seems contrary to the principles of openness and inclusiveness that we value at Westpac.

'We will be focusing on working together with the community to identify other ways of celebrating Westpac's commitment to diversity and inclusion across New Zealand.'

Defence Force squadron leader Stu Pearce said it didn't feel comfortable participating in an event that excluded other uniformed services.

'Like Defence, Police are on their own journey and are fully committed to inclusive diversity.'

Last week, the Pride board said that the decision to refuse uniformed police officers from participating in the parade was made for the safety of members of the LGBTQI+ community.

Emilie Rākete, spokeswoman for People Against Prisons Aotearoa, said she had been beaten by police and groped by a male officer, and the way they treated transgender people was 'disgusting'.

A special general meeting would be held in early December to decide the future of Auckland's Pride board after four Pride members expressed a 'lack of confidence' over the police uniform ban.

Vodafone NZ Rainbow Whānau said it is not in any way delegitimising or disrespecting the concerns of some in the rainbow community who have had bad experiences with the Police.

'However, we echo the sentiment of the Human Rights Commission and others who have applauded the Police for the steps they have taken to make the LGBTQI+ community feel safe and included, including the addition of 80 community Liaison Officers,' it said.

'We cannot participate in an event that applies different rules for different groups and seems to be acting contrary to its kaupapa.'