MEDIA ACCREDITATION NOW OPEN FOR AUCKLAND PRIDE’S SIGNATURE EVENT

AUCKLAND PRIDE PARADE: Saturday 17 February 2018
AUCKLAND PRIDE FESTIVAL: 2-18 February 2018

Auckland Pride 2018 is in full swing following a full house opening night at The Auckland Pride Gala, the first of over 85 events spread across the next two weeks. Looking forward to the Festival’s final weekend, Auckland Pride is delighted to open requests for media accreditation to cover the Festival’s landmark event, the massive Auckland Pride Parade on Saturday 17 February.

To apply for media accreditation, please email Auckland Pride Festival publicist Kelly Geater directly at [email protected] with the subject line ‘Media Accreditation [Publication]: Auckland Pride Parade’.

On the day, the Auckland Pride Parade route will be blessed by Tangata Whenua at 6.45pm, before a karakia, speeches from the Auckland Pride Board, and an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with LGBTIQ+ community leaders. The Auckland Pride Parade 2018 will commence at 7.30pm. Making its way down Ponsonby Road in full fanfare with well over 50 floats, the 2018 Parade will begin near Tole Street and end at Western Park.

Leading the way will be a magnificent rainbow-coloured crane reflecting this year’s Parade theme of Pride and Peace. The multi-faceted symbolism of the crane has inspired Auckland Pride’s float designer Dion Boothby:

“I’ve been personally shocked and appalled by recent moves elsewhere in the world to remove hard fought for rights from LGBTIQ+ communities. Being part of the Auckland Pride Parade team has given me the opportunity to design a float around the idea of peace and unity. I’ve chosen to fuse two commonly used symbols of peace – the flying dove and the crane – and mix them together into one uplifting piece. Drawing on the visual language of contemporary sculpture, the form of the bird is described by using 500 rainbow coloured aluminium rods which are extruded at different lengths to create an optical illusion of the bird shape. Each rod is separate, but when united together, create a symbol of peace. The nature of the design means that when it’s initially viewed it may not be entirely obvious what it is, but as it approaches and passes its’ form is revealed. The float will take an entire week to construct, in a workshop kindly provided by Unitec.”

Parade Producer Shaughan Woodcock says that while the Auckland Pride Parade is a time to celebrate, it’s also a time to stand up for your beliefs, challenge the status quo, reflect on the progress that has been made, and remember those no longer with us.

“Producing the Auckland Pride Parade on behalf of the Auckland Pride Board and our LGBTIQ+ communities is an absolute honour. The Parade is an opportunity to celebrate who we are and to advocate for our rights, as well as connecting and building relationships between business and our communities. It’s extremely concerning that many countries continue to deny our human rights. Whilst there are still changes to be fought for, I’m proud to live in a country that largely accepts people for who they are. What makes Aotearoa so special? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!”

Situated in Western Park, the Auckland Pride Parade Grandstand is the prime location for viewing the 2018 Parade. The Grandstand boasts premium sightlines of the event, with food stalls and beverages, and all the amenities for an incredible Parade experience. Celebrity MCs will lead a pre-Parade entertainment line-up, then introduce the fabulous float entries in the 2018 Parade itself!

To apply for media accreditation for the Auckland Pride Parade 2018, please contact Festival Publicist Kelly Geater: [email protected]

For more information about the Auckland Pride Parade 2018, please contact Parade Producer Shaughan Woodcock: [email protected]

For more information about the Auckland Pride Festival 2018, please contact Festival Director Julian Cook: [email protected]