Rival Auckland pride group set to run own parade - with uniformed police

Saturday, 4 May 2019

A rival pride group established in Auckland is not ruling out hosting its own pride festival and parade.

After a controversial 2019 Pride festival saw sponsors pull out of the long-running event because Auckland Pride said police couldn't march unless they wore mufti, critics have formed their own group - Rainbow Pride AKL.

The group registered as a company in April, after creating a website and social media presence seeking expressions of interest from potential board members. One of its 'guardians' includes former Labour MP Georgina Beyer.

A letter sent by Rainbow Pride to more than 100 businesses, groups and charities sought $400,000 in parade funding.

**READ MORE:

Some non-Pākehā transgender women had expressed troubling experiences with the police, and that seeing them in uniform could be upsetting.

*Auckland Pride Parade to continue in 2019

*Wellington rainbow community divided over uniformed police

*Rainbow police car cost $10k

*Rainbow police car a 'cynical, two week-long PR stunt'

*Emails reveal tension between Auckland Pride and police**

Matt Bagshaw is the first chairperson of newly formed group, Rainbow Pride AKL.

'In return of your anticipated involvement and donation, you will be celebrating and supporting New Zealand's diverse culture and of course receive positive corporate and brand exposure,' the letter read. 'The event is set to be the biggest yet and our intention is to celebrate community success, educate through awareness and eliminate prejudice.'

Auckland Pride chair Cissy Rock was aware of the group and its letter, and said its members had attended Auckland Pride huis for its own February 2020 Pride Festival. While Rock wouldn't rule out organising the event together, she said Rainbow Pride would have to approach Auckland Pride.

'I think it's pretty clear that Auckland Pride are the people that have put on the parades…and anyone that wanted to do something in that area would need to call, and come to us. And we're up for that. We have said all along we are open to reaching out and talking with anyone who is interested in being part of the Auckland Pride Festival.

Auckland Pride Festival chairperson Cissy Rock speaks at #ourmarch on February 9 2019. 'Our Pride' occurred as a result of a number of sponsors withdrawing from the traditional pride parade down Ponsonby's main strip, after Auckland Pride requested that police not wear uniforms to the march.

Police on horseback at the 2018 Auckland Pride Parade.

'We live in this democracy and if someone thing happens that you don't like, or you have your own ideas, you go and form another group that furthers these ideas. They have an idea of what they want to do and they have a number of supporters and they have a plan - and we have a process that we follow.'

Rainbow's newly installed chairperson Matt Bagshaw said it would be happy to explore working together for the 2020 festival and parade, but that was contingent on 'shared values'. No uniformed police in the parade 'could be a deal breaker' and he was 'really confident' in the police.

'We're all about 'love is all you need' and if people are on board with that, then we can work with them.'

If a joint approach failed it had no qualms about holding a separate parade, but plans would crystalise after Auckland Pride had its AGM, Bagshaw said.

A police spokesperson said Commissioner Mike Bush met with the Auckland Pride Board in early March.

'The meeting was productive and there is a commitment from both parties to continue working together moving forward.'

Police would not say if it had been in touch with Rainbow Pride AKL.