All the updates from our 2025 AGM
Hello from the Wellington Pride Festival Committee. What’s that, you say, aren’t we the Wellington Pride Festival Board? Well, we were, but that changed on 25 May when our AGM approved an updated constitution.
Do we like the word ‘committee’ better than ‘board’? That’s up for debate, but at least now we are up to date with updated legislation. Woo!
Okay, so what else happened at the AGM? Heaps actually! Thanks very much to the 25 attendees, and apologies again for the technical difficulties.
We heard the Co-Chair’s report from Taylor, which you can read below (link).
Treasurer Steven M shared our financial reports from the Festival.
Joanna reported back on the festival survey and what we’ll be doing to build on that next year.
Secretary Jeremy led a discussion on our updated constitution and we voted on it. The new constitution changes can be summed up as:
We are now officially a Committee (rather than a Board) as required by the Act
Membership is now either:
‘Paid Member’ - a membership fee/s will be set by the committee in the near future.
‘Volunteer Member’ - an alternative to paid membership; you can commit to volunteer for the Festival.
‘Honorary’ and ‘Life’ memberships remain.
We are now required to keep documents and registers with regard to ‘Conflict of Interests’ and ‘Disqualification from holding Office’, as required by the Act, which is reflected in the changes.
We also made things clearer regarding Secretary and Treasurer roles which were missing.
and, We defined our area of operation as the area administered by the Greater Wellington Regional Council minus Wairarapa.
New committee members Jonothon and Molly were welcomed into the team. Existing member Joanna became Co-Chair.
We discussed our plans for the year including fundraising ideas, merchandise (link), community engagement opportunities and the themes for next year’s festival - “Honouring the past, building for the future and celebrating the now” and “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini”.
We thought these would be fitting for both the 40th anniversary of the Festival and the 40th anniversary of the passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill.Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter and following us on our social media (Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram) to learn more as we announce things.
We received an update on the Human Rights Review Tribunal work from previous board member Tasmin and Victoria Casey KC.
And, we voted Victoria Casey in as an honourary member of the Wellington Pride Festival for all her amazing work.
Sometime soon we’ll be coming to you with options around your membership of the Wellington Pride Festival so keep an eye out for that news!
Chair’s Report: Wellington Pride Festival AGM 2025
Tēnā koutou katoa,
It is with immense pleasure and pride that I present the Chairs Report for the Wellington Pride Festival for the past year. This year's festival was a vibrant testament to the strength, diversity, and resilience of our rainbow community. We witnessed incredible engagement, powerful moments of connection, and significant steps forward in fostering a more inclusive Wellington.
Survey overview
Following the Wellington Pride Festival 2025, an online survey was released to gather feedback on attendees' experiences. We received 50 responses, consistent with the number of respondents in 2020. While acknowledging the limitations of self-selecting, online participation, this feedback provides a valuable snapshot of the festival experience. Respondents were predominantly Pākeha and from Wellington City, though a range of ages and rainbow identities were represented. Our most popular signature event was Out in the City.
Key achievements & highlights
This year's festival truly shone, with numerous highlights repeatedly mentioned in the feedback.
Kuru Pounamu gala launch: This event was an overwhelming success and a standout favourite, particularly for its powerful centering of Takatāpau and POC queer voices. Multiple attendees expressed deep appreciation for this celebration of Māori culture within a queer context, with one participant stating, "Literally all of Kuru Pounamu. Please, I am literally begging you to do that again. To see that celebration of takatāpui and POC queer-ness was so beautiful and I smiled almost the entire time."
Out in the City: Despite some weather challenges, the return of Out in the City to an outdoor venue was largely well-received, with many appreciating the layout, performers, and overall positive vibes. The accessibility of load-out was also highlighted as a significant improvement. Out in the City was our most popular signature event, and opinions on Odlins Plaza as a venue were mixed.
Community connection: The recurring theme across feedback was the strong sense of community and connection fostered by the festival. Events like the Pride Picnic, the Hīkoi, and various community-produced gatherings facilitated meaningful interactions and a feeling of belonging.
Quality of events: Many participants praised the quality of the events, with one attendee noting, "Every event went better than I was expecting! Great quality, just spread the word early to get more people involved!"
Youth engagement: The Youth Ball was a particular highlight, with attendees expressing how much they loved it and the opportunity to make friends and feel part of the queer Wellington community.
Accessibility efforts: The festival put a particular focus on making the festival more accessible this year. The festival's focus on accessibility information on the website was specifically acknowledged and appreciated by attendees, signifying a positive step forward. The provision of a bus for the Hīkoi was also noted as a positive accessibility measure.
Impactful partnerships for youth: A significant success this year was our facilitated partnership between Yes for Success and Te Whare Kahukura. Their 'Fit Check' and 'Get Ready' events supported 15 queer youth (aged 13-18) in accessing gender-affirming clothing, with 10 leaving with garments. This initiative was overwhelmingly positive, providing a safe space for young people to find clothing that truly fit their gender expression, with some experiencing this for the first time. The remaining donations to Te Whare Kahukura's Community Wardrobe will continue this invaluable support. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to direct, meaningful impact on our community, especially for our rangatahi.
Challenges faced & strategic considerations
While the festival achieved significant successes, it has also reached a critical juncture where its growth has begun to outpace its volunteer-led organisational structure. The challenges we face are not unique to Wellington but represent a common evolutionary stage for Pride organisations worldwide. Research by InterPride (2018) found that 73% of Pride organisations globally report similar challenges when transitioning from small community celebrations to larger festivals.
The key challenges identified through both our community feedback and international research include:
Volunteer burnout: Our dedicated Board members are experiencing unsustainable workloads managing increasingly complex events. This is a global trend, with 73% of Pride organisations reporting volunteer burnout as their primary operational challenge, and the average tenure of Pride board members decreasing significantly due to workload.
Institutional knowledge loss: High turnover of burnt-out volunteers results in significant loss of operational expertise and community relationships. This is evidenced by 68% of Pride organisations reporting "significant loss of operational knowledge" between board transitions, often leading to organisations spending months "reinventing the wheel" each cycle.
Communication & timeliness: Better communication was the most common theme in our survey feedback. Participants emphasised the need for earlier and more consistent communication regarding event dates, programme details, and information for stallholders and event organisers. Several comments highlighted difficulties with receiving timely information, with one person stating, "I kept getting lost in the emails... Just trying to keep that information flow consistent, and sending the details for the events sooner rather than later."
Mission drift: The logistical demands of event management have inadvertently diverted focus from community engagement and advocacy. Studies show that as Pride festivals grow, the percentage of their budget allocated to community programs can significantly decrease, and organisations may spend a large portion of resources on event logistics despite mission statements emphasising community engagement.
Out in the City venue & logistics: While enjoyed by many, the outdoor location for Out in the City presented challenges due to wind and sensory overload. Suggestions included returning to a larger space like Frank Kitts Park or Waitangi Park, creating quiet areas for those feeling overwhelmed, and improving food options. There was also feedback about needing clearer information on stall size and cost for Out in the City.
Hīkoi accessibility: Despite the accessible bus, the Hīkoi route was perceived as too long and too fast for some with mobility needs. Suggestions included shorter routes or more accessible pacing, and ensuring enough space for multiple wheelchair users on the bus.
Event gaps & diversity: Some attendees noted a "vacuum" in the first week after the opening and suggested adding more events, particularly for older rainbow community members, quiet/low-key gatherings (e.g., crafting, open mic), sports tournaments, professional dinners, and events specifically for the Ace community. There was also a call for more indigenous queer events or lesbian-focused events.
Night-time event accessibility: A recurring point was the need for night-time events to be closer to public transport to improve accessibility for those outside the central city.
Marketing & attendance: While Kuru Pounamu was celebrated, feedback indicated it should have been sold out, suggesting more proactive advertising for key events is needed. There was also a desire for "early comms" and "clear due dates for the programme".
Language & event naming: There was feedback regarding the language used for some events, with suggestions to reconsider titles that might be misconstrued or alienate certain community members.
Community engagement & inclusivity
The festival demonstrated a strong commitment to community engagement and inclusivity, as evidenced by the positive feedback regarding:
Takatāpau and POC centering: The resounding success of Kuru Pounamu highlighted the festival's commitment to centering and celebrating Māori and POC queer identities. We will continue to seek ways to partner with takatāpau and Māori in alignment with meeting our Te Whāriki vision.
Family-friendly events: The Pride Picnic was praised as fun and family-friendly, demonstrating the festival's appeal to diverse demographics.
Youth support: The Youth Ball and the Yes for Success partnership provided vital spaces for younger members of the community, fostering a sense of belonging and access to crucial resources.
Addressing accessibility: The conscious effort to provide accessibility information and accessible transport options for the Hīkoi were positive steps towards greater inclusivity for disabled and neurodiverse individuals. We will continue to keep accessibility front of mind and work with all event producers to ensure full information about accessibility is published in advance.
Looking ahead: strategic vision and goals for the next year
Based on the valuable feedback received and the evidence of common challenges faced by growing Pride organisations, we are actively exploring strategic options to ensure the long-term sustainability and continued impact of the Wellington Pride Festival.
Our key goals for the upcoming year will focus on:
Enhanced communication: Prioritising earlier and more consistent communication of event dates, program details, and essential information for all stakeholders. We've already started a monthly newsletter and created a news section on our website to improve information flow. We will also publish a full calendar of lead-in times and deadlines well in advance of the festival.
Improved accessibility: Reviewing the Hīkoi route for greater accessibility and exploring options for more quiet spaces and varied accessible transport at larger events like Out in the City. We will ensure full accessibility information is published in advance for all events.
Diverse event programming: Actively seeking out and supporting a broader range of events to fill gaps identified in the survey, including events for older rainbow community members, quieter social gatherings, and specific cultural or interest-based events. We will also look to encourage events to come to the Hutt and Porirua regions. We'll be producing a guide to running your own events and offering workshops to help community members create these events.
Optimising Out in the City: Re-evaluating the Out in the City venue to ensure it provides sufficient space, shelter, and comfort for all attendees and stallholders, potentially revisiting a park setting. As Out in the City is booked into Odlins Plaza again, we'll ensure communications to stallholders emphasise the need for weights for gazebos. We will also provide clearer information on the size of the space and cost for stallholders.
Strategic marketing: Developing a more robust marketing strategy to ensure key signature events receive wider promotion and reach their full attendance potential.
Collaboration & support: Continuing to collaborate with community groups and offering better support and information for event organisers, including clear due dates and guidance on event accessibility. We will also continue to seek out and facilitate impactful partnerships like the one with Yes for Success and Te Whare Kahukura.
Strengthening organisational capacity through a community partnership model: We are exploring the implementation of a community partnership model. This approach, supported by international evidence, could involve:
Event delivery: Partnering with established organisations to manage specific festival components. We are exploring partnerships such as Burnett Foundation for Pride Picnic, Creative Capital Arts Trust for Out in the City, and InsideOUT for Youth Ball. This leverages existing expertise and distributes workload, deepening community ownership.
This recommended approach focuses on leveraging existing expertise and distributing workload through partnerships, while creating a more sustainable structure for volunteers and improving capacity for strategic planning.
Special thanks
A huge thank you to all the volunteers, event organisers, and community members who dedicated their time, energy, and passion to making the Wellington Pride Festival a resounding success. Your commitment is the heart of this festival, and we deeply appreciate your mahi. The feedback from volunteers indicates that the experience was "way better than in previous years," which is a testament to the hard work of the Wellington Pride Festival team.
We are truly grateful for the constructive feedback provided through the survey and the invaluable insights from the strategic growth analysis. It is through this open dialogue and evidence-based planning that we can continue to grow, learn, and build a festival that truly serves and celebrates every facet of our incredible rainbow community. Your time and effort in filling out the survey will help guide us to an even better festival next year.
Ngā mihi nui.
