E kore e taea e te whiu anake te whakamutu i ngā mamae tuku iho o tēnā whakatupuranga, o tēnā whakatupuranga. E kore hoki e taea te whakahoki mai i te mana mā te karo i te kawenga mō ā tātou mahi.

Me ū te tika me te pono o te whakawa ki ēnei kawenga e rua — te kawe i te haepapa mō te mamae kua pā mai, me te whakarite i ngā āhuatanga e kore ai taua mamae e puta anō.

- Te Rōpū Māori

TĀMAKI MAKAURAU, AUCKLAND (October 2026): In the face of violence, discrimination, and ongoing attempts to diminish our existence, Auckland Pride stands firm in our commitment to the liberation, self-determination, and collective futures of Takatāpui and Rainbow communities.

The violence inflicted on Takatāpui and Rainbow communities at Te Atatū Peninsula Community Centre on 15 February 2025 was a painful reminder of the hostility our communities continue to face simply for existing as ourselves. We recognise the harm experienced by those directly impacted, and the wider grief, anger, fear, and exhaustion carried by our communities in its aftermath. We stand with our people in care and solidarity, reaffirming that we deserve to live full lives, and that no one should have to endure violence or intimidation for being who they are.

Our futures are not defined by the violence inflicted upon us. Our liberation is ours to define, it is not something that can be determined by others. It is shaped by our collective resistance, our care for one another, our creativity, our solidarity, and our unwavering determination to build a world where Takatāpui and Rainbow people can live freely, safely, and authentically.

Trans people have always existed, and always will. Across generations, our people have lived, loved, created, resisted, and realised collective futures beyond the limitations of systemic, political and physical violence. No matter the violence we face, we will not be erased. Our existence is not conditional. Our identities are not up for debate. Our right to belong, to thrive, and to determine our own futures cannot be taken from us.

We refuse to let fear dictate the boundaries of our lives. We will continue to gather, to organise, celebrate, create, and take up space. We will continue to tell our stories in our own voices, to protect and nurture our people, and to build communities where our mana is upheld and our lives are valued. We will continue to imagine futures that are more just, more compassionate, and more equitable than the world we live in.

Our liberation lives in the relationships we build, the art we make, the movements we sustain, the care we offer, and the courage with which we stand alongside one another. It lives in our commitment to those who came before us and our responsibility to those who will come after us.

Auckland Pride honours the resilience of our people without suggesting that resilience should ever be a prerequisite for safety. We envisage Takatāpui and Rainbow communities leading and influencing an equitable Aotearoa through transformational storytelling, while also affirming that our communities deserve joy, rest, dignity, and freedom.

We will not allow violence to define who we are or determine what is possible for us. We will build our futures together, grounded in tino rangatiratanga, mana motuhake, collective care, and the belief that every Takatāpui and Rainbow person deserves the freedom to live authentically and without fear.

Our future belongs to us. Our existence is not up for debate. Our liberation is ours to shape. And together, we will build a future in which all Takatāpui and Rainbow people can live, love, create, and thrive.

We are still here. We are not going anywhere. And we are building what comes next, together.

We continue to support initiatives politically and within Māori institutions of tino rangatiratanga that call for our protection as Takatāpui within Aotearoa and iwi Māori.

If you wish to continue to call out violence within our communities here some tools and resources to help you navigate: https://kahukura.co.nz/  

If you would like to continue shaping the futures of our movement alongside Te Rōpū and Auckland Pride, sign up as a member now - https://membership.aucklandpride.org.nz/  

Ngā Uri E! We are descendants of movements! 

ENDS

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