Everything You Need to Know About Waimahara 2025

Ka Mua, Ka Muri: Pride and Protest 10 Years Later

2025 marks 10 years since protests against Auckland Pride sparked a conversation about our role as a community-led organisation and how we can create welcoming spaces that mean Rainbow and Takatāpui communities can be more than just spectators to our celebrations. 

Join us at our closing event, Waimahara, for a panel discussion moderated by Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, featuring Cissy Rock and Dr. Emmy Rākete as we reflect on how the history of Protest and Pride has shaped the festival, the lessons learnt, and our hopes for the future. We’ll be joined on the day by a full panel of guests sharing their experiences across different generations and eras of Pride and Protest in Aotearoa. 

Come along and hear their stories as we look to the next 10 years of Pride in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Panelists

Cissy Rock

Cissy Rock was the Chair of Auckland Pride from 2018 - 2020 where she used her formidable talents as a community facilitator to lead the organisation through a number of challenging discussions.

Cissy Rock is a passionate agent for change, combining systemic thinking with grass-roots doing – Cissy is not afraid to give her opinion and roll up her selves to help make it happen. Absolutely committed to working with people, finding ways for us all to be visible and have voice. With over 15 years’ experience working with communities and Local Government she has found that integrity is at the heart of her work and at the heart of her troublemaking

At our 2023 AGM, in recognition of her leadership and the long lasting impact she has left on Auckland Pride, the membership inducted Cissy as the second ever Life Member of Auckland Pride.

Dr. Emmy Rākete

Dr. Emmy Rākete helped to found No Pride in Prisons in 2015, the organisation which would later go on to become the prison abolitionist organisation People Against Prisons Aotearoa.

Emmy is a lecturer and a critical Marxist scholar working in the activist-academic tradition at the University of Auckland.

The goal of her work is to demonstrate how social problems originate in the structure of society itself, and to argue for organised class struggle as a means of changing that structure. Educated as a participant in New Zealand's social movements, Emmy carries on a keen interest in how theoretical work can inform and guide practical action.
 
Emmy and No Pride in Prisons first protested Auckland Pride in 2015 which started a long process of reflection and change within Pride which continues to this day.

Performers

Spdrtwnbby

Spdrtwnbby (spider town baby) hails from the villages of Lalomanu and Malie in Upolu, Samoa. Born & raised in Avondale. Her first song appearance was a feature on  ‘Birds and the Eagles’, with NZ RnB artist Jarna. Her debut single ‘Pixel Pixie’ released in 2024 along with her debut music video made with support from NZ on air. Her second single featuring artist romiin called ‘Fruits in the diaspora’ which was a part of All My Friends collective - Niu Gold Mountain for 2024. Her latest single "Indecisive" featuring Lepani and produced by Bharu is out now.

Instagram / YouTube / Soundcloud

Nganeko

Nganeko makes music that stops you in your tracks!

Her sound is a refreshing slice of modern R&B with heartfelt lyrics and a vocal that sends shivers down your spine.

The Tāmaki Makaurau-born singer and songwriter first started turning heads with her unofficial releases on Soundcloud and DIY-style videos posted on Instagram. Nganeko’s lo-fi bedroom releases led to her featuring on tracks by some of the hottest names in Aotearoa music, including Church & AP and Troy Kingi.

In 2020, Nganeko stepped boldly into the spotlight in her own right, with her debut single ‘Serious’, which has amassed close to 1 million streams on Spotify alone. ‘Serious’ debuted at #2 in the NZ Hot Charts and #25 in the Hot 40 Singles.

Nganeko followed up the success of ‘Serious’ with a string of winning songs, including the recently released ‘Down Bad Patrol’ and ‘Simple Illusion’, produced by Brent Park and B Haru (Ladi 6).

It’s just a mere taste of the magic Nganeko plans to unleash.

Instagram / YouTube / Soundcloud

Waiora Hub

Our Waiora Hub, next to the playground, will have Rainbow service providers and community organisations running workshops and activations, offering valuable resources on health, advocacy, and grassroots mobilisation. This will be your hub for community education, engagement, and support! It’s where knowledge meets action and connection. Whether you’re looking to learn, get involved, or connect with others who share your vision, Waiora has it all. Come for the insights, stay for the solidarity!

At Waiora Hub this year, we have:

• Body Positive
• Burnett Foundation Aotearoa
• Ethnic Rainbow Alliance
• Intersex Aotearoa
• Kick Back
• People Against Prisons Aotearoa
• Village Collective

Click here to learn more about their mission and where you can find them online.

Important Notes

Accessible Points for Drop Off/Pick Up

Drop off/Pick up Points: Wilson Parking on Greys Avenue or Mayoral Drive (off Wellesley Street West) behind Aotea Centre.

What to Bring

• Sunblock
• Hat
• Comfortable footwear
• Picnic style food
• Water Bottle: We’ll have refill stations on site
• Earplugs
• KN95 or N95 Mask
• Medication you might need

Friendly Reminders

1. Be wary of waste consumption, please use the bins provided or take rubbish home with you.
2. Stay hydrated!
3. Make sure your phone is fully charged.
4. We’re so much cooler in numbers, make sure you have your besties with you.
5. All Volunteers and Auckland Pride kaimahi are here to help on the day! Look out for our Volunteers in pink shirts with the Auckland Pride logo! They're here to assist you with directions, provide information, or offer help if you need it while navigating Waimahara.

NOTE: Filming In Progress

By attending this event, you may be filmed or photographed. If you prefer not to be recorded, please inform a photographer, videographer, or volunteer.

Proudly supported by Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate.

A huge thank you to Auckland Live, Basement Theatre, and Lifewise for Myers Park Cottage.

Become a Member of Auckland Pride

Did you know we’re a membership organisation? Auckland Pride Members inform the organisation's directions as they hold voting rights at our Annual General Meeting, with the opportunity to nominate and elect other Members to serve on the Board.

Additional benefits of Auckland Pride membership will be developed over time, and may include:

• Regular communications to Members
• Invitations to meetings and events
• Preferential and early-bird booking offers
• Ticketing and merchandise discounts
• Other special offers from Auckland Pride

To become a member, visit https://membership.aucklandpride.org.nz/ and join us today.

Donate with Pride!

As a Registered Charity, Auckland Pride deeply appreciates the support from our Takatāpui and Rainbow Communities and allies through donations. Your donations support us to deliver the annual Festival, support event costs, and provide marketing and operational support to our hundreds of Festival events.

Your donations go 100% towards these initiatives, and ensuring Auckland Pride continues to provide phenomenal events and experiences that bring together our rainbow communities.

Donations can be made here https://aucklandpride.org.nz/donate or to the following Auckland Pride account:
ANZ Bank: 01-0249-0209651-00