Wellington International Pride Parade Board Co-Chairs Amanduh La and Heather Henare announced that the Board has unanimously agreed to cancel the 2021 Wellington International Pride Parade and focus our efforts on the parade for March 2022.

Henare says, “I am really proud of this Board, in 2019 we were the first major public event following the terrible attacks at Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre. In 2020, we were the last major public event ahead of the national COVID-19 lockdown. We have faced challenges before and we will rise again.”

The WIPP Board has assessed the situation in New Zealand and has decided that it is more responsible to hold the event in 2022 to relieve potential pressure on already stressed community resources in Wellington.

“This has been a very difficult year for New Zealand and for many in our communities already dealing with mental health issues and other challenges. There is so much stress in our communities that the best thing we can do right now is play our role in the team of five-million and be patient for a year, just like everyone else has had to be,” says Amanduh.

The Board will be working to continue delivering its engagement plan, building its internal organisational capacity and commence planning now for what the Board hopes will be a bigger and better WIPP in 2022. The funds being raised from the sell-out Queens for a Cause at Wellington bar and eatery Whistling Sisters will be put to WIPP 2022 instead.

“In 2019, 20,000 people braved the streets and stared down hate and racism by celebrating our pride. In 2020, 50,000 people celebrated our pride before we commenced the job of fighting COVID-19. While this is a test for us again, I have no doubt that we are doing the right thing to support our communities and the team of five million,” says Amanduh.