Uniformed police will walk in Rainbow Pride Auckland parade

Wednesday, 29 January 2020

Police at the 2018 Auckland Pride Parade.

Uniformed police will march in a new Auckland pride parade after being banned from the city's official parade in 2019.

The decision by Auckland Pride organisers was met with controversy at the time and this year, there is no plan to return to the status quo.

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

Rainbow Pride Auckland (RPA) is a new group formed as a response to the controversy.

It will hold its own parade along Ponsonby Rd, separate from the official Pride event schedule.

**READ MORE:

Matt Bagshaw is the first chairman of the newly formed group Rainbow Pride Auckland.

* Auckland Pride 2020: A year on from police uniform ban, parade won't return

* Rival group set to run own parade

Auckland Pride 2019 organisers made the controversial decision to ban uniformed police and to change the parade to a march.

* Board reincarnates parade as walk**

Chairman Matt Bagshaw said on Wednesday the New Zealand Police would be participating in the newly-formed event.

'The police share the ambition of eliminating prejudice and inequality across Aotearoa,' he said.

'The parade, happening on February 29, will be a celebration of diversity, inclusivity and our wonderful city.'

Bagshaw said police were working on 'making positive changes' for members of the rainbow community.

'Nobody gets it right all the time but their participation in the parade demonstrates a continued commitment to the betterment of all our communities.'

Superintendent Bruce O'Brien, the relieving district commander for Auckland City, said the police were looking forward to taking part in the parade.

'Valuing diversity is a core value for police in which our staff strive to uphold every day,' O'Brien said.

'We are proud of our progress to date and our work to celebrate diversity and support for the rainbow communities. We are determined in our continued effort to make improvements in this space.'