Westpac the latest organisation to pull out of Auckland Pride Parade

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

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

Westpac is the latest organisation to announce it won't take part in Auckland's next Pride Parade after the board banned police from marching in uniforms.

A spokesman for Westpac New Zealand confirmed while the bank would not be taking part in Auckland's Parade, employees would still be attending Pride in Wellington and Christchurch.

'The decision was made by employees who represent and advocate for the rainbow community at Westpac,' he said.

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

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Rainbow NZ chairman Gresham Bradley, right, said a unanimous decision meant the charity was pulling its funding of the parade.

'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.'

Earlier on Tuesday, the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust pulled its funding for the parade after a special meeting on Monday to discuss the issue.

Rainbow NZ chairman Gresham Bradley said the trustees made the decision unanimously.

'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.

The release said the trust had provided funding to support not-for-profits groups taking part in the parade in past years.

Police on horseback at the 2018 Auckland Pride Parade.

'With great regret, the trustees have determined that they cannot support the decision of the Auckland Pride Board which appears to be driven by a small and vociferous minority in the community, and is contrary to the wishes of the vast majority of the rainbow community including those who have for many years fought hard for the rights we hold today in New Zealand.'

Bradley said the 'overall envelope' for funding Pride was about $10,000 and it used up to $3000 of that to support groups participating in the parade.

Rainbow NZ would continue to provide funding for other organisations in the rainbow community who wanted to hold their own events 'as these are separate from events managed by Auckland Pride itself'.

A meeting held on Sunday night by the Pride board was described as 'emotional' and 'a circus'.

Last week, the 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.

Tracy Phillips, co-ordinator of the New Zealand Police's diversity liaison officer (DLO) service, responded by saying: 'We're certainly not going to force our way in, and we've taken that message as we are not welcome.'

The decision sparked outrage in the rainbow community, many of whom said it went against the long-held pride values of inclusivity.

The Defence Force confirmed on Monday night that it would no longer partake in the march.

Squadron leader Stu Pearce said it did not 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.'

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.