Photo Credit:
Bob Zuur
Paekākāriki Pride Festival Background
Georgina Beyer MNZM, the world’s first openly transgender MP, was the inspiration behind the birth of Pride in Paekākāriki back in 2016.
Founders, Pat McIntosh and Val Little decided to run a Pride dance party to raise funds to contribute to Georgina’s treatment when her health had declined. Pat says, “Georgina was always such an inspiration and an icon for the Rainbow communities. We wanted to give something back to this national taonga as a token of our appreciation and we couldn’t think of a better way to do it than to run a big old queer disco!”
The dance attracted a range of people from all over the region and Georgina attended, albeit frail, to celebrate her contribution to Maori and LGBTQIA+ rights. The following year saw the birth of the festival favourites we see today, including the (unofficial) World’s Shortest Pride Parade, at which Georgina cut the ribbon and officially launched it.
In March 2023, Georgina passed away aged 65. Paekākāriki Pride celebrated her legacy with a 'G' themed pride dance in the 2023 festival.
Where we are today
Fast forward to now and the festival has grown exponentially since its humble, yet fabulous beginnings. A few of the highlights have been:
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2021 we became an Incorporated Society.
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2022 we received funding from KCDC towards expanding our outreach to the Kāpiti Coast.
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2023 we were winners in the Arts & Culture section of the Kapiti Wellington Regional Cultural and Arts section.
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In October 2023 Paekākāriki Pride hosted the first ever Pride Youth Ball on the Coast which was a huge hit with Rainbow Youth.