New trust launches ahead of week-long Wānaka pride party

After running Wānaka's first public pride party last year, a group of locals passionate about promoting love and acceptance is launching a charitable trust to aid their mission.

It is called OUT&about Wānaka, and it will be welcomed with a morning tea gathering at the Wānaka Community Hub this Sunday.

Also on the calendar - a week-long pride festival, growing off the back of the success of the inaugural 2023 Saturday event, which attracted as many as 2,000 people with drag queen performances, DJs and bands, a 'Living Library' populated by members of the rainbow community, and pop-up food and drink outlets.

This year's festival will culminate with a street party at the Lake Wānaka Centre on Saturday, November 16.

"By bringing people together, connecting, and embracing each other's differences, we aspire to create a more inclusive and understanding society in Wānaka, where every individual, regardless of their age, gender identity or sexual orientation, feels valued and celebrated," the group says in a statement announcing its latest plans.

"We look forward to working with a range of community groups and to support them as our wonderfully diverse community grows.

"We are currently developing programs to support social wellbeing, support parents and caregivers, and create wider support networks within the region.

"This will build upon the hard mahi of other local rainbow programmes such as Queers & Beers and Wānaka’s newest social group, Queer Quarterly Reads."

Last year's rallying of Wānaka's rainbow community and allies came in response to anti-queer sentiment circulating in the town.

It was described as "lots of little things snowballing", including one parent encouraging students to wear black in protest to Mount Aspiring College’s pride parade and LGBTQIA+ books being taken from the Wānaka Library meaning those who wanted to couldn’t access them.

Keen to attend the launch event for OUT@about Wānaka? It is being held at the Wānaka Community Hub on Sunday, August 25 at 11am.