Love who you are – Pride Parade 2018!

On Saturday 60 staff, their whanau and friends, alongside our Love who you are float, featuring seven Cook Island drummers, paraded and danced their way along Ponsonby Road for the 2018 Pride Parade celebration! The combination of our people, great connections and Pacific sounds made it an awesome event for everyone involved.

Many of our crew brought along their children, also kitted out in the #lovewhoyouare t-shirts, who made a big impact, winning the hearts of the crowds by giving out lollies, waves and smiles along the way.

Unitec was positioned just in front of the Labour float so many of our ALLIEs got to chat with the Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern while participating and celebrating in this very special carnival of equality and diversity.

Our ALLY facilitators: Rob Gambolati – Community Development Lecturer, Louise Bourchier – Community Development Lecturer, Ciarin Smith – Programme Development Coordinator, Te Korowai Kahurangi and Sonya Collie – Equity and Inclusion Manager (not pictured – Cathie Powell – Community Development Lecturer)

This year the Pride Parade theme was Rainbow Warriors: Pride
and Peace – a march for peace, love and unity.

The Unitec Parade Marshals

Pride Parade walkers (from left) Kimmie Loeffen – Digital Marketing Co-ordinator, Kerry Kirkland – Head of Business Practice and Matalena O’Mara – Unitec Student President