Whakatūwhera

This has been postponed to Saturday 4 Feb!

The Auckland Pride Festival 2023 opens with a dawn blessing, acknowledging our locality to Tāmaki Makaurau, both in our contemporary urban experience and in the intergenerational reverence we hold towards the mana of the whenua; Rangipuke, Te Wai O Horotiu, Te Waitematā, Tīkapa Moana and the wider Tāmaki Makaurau rohe (region), on which our festival activates. 

As the first offering in our programme, the Tuwheratanga offers a chance to open the space for the Festival, to acknowledge the mana of Ahi Kaa in deep admiration, to celebrate our artists and bring together our diverse hāpori. To share in our relationships to each other and honour the countless energies that have pioneered and continue to inspire our Takatāpui, MVPFAFF, Queer Pasikifa & Rainbow spaces.

This year our Tuwheratanga will be the premiere showing of works from our first ever Rangatahi Takatāpui Creative New Zealand resident Kiriana Kemp as Kai-maninirau.

We hope to reflect back on our shared history, those who have carved a path for our community, to pay tribute to the pioneers of the queer liberation movement in Aotearoa, celebrate our artists and lay the intention of this 2023 festival.