Celebrating Pride Through Culture, Creativity, and Community
This Global Pride Month, Rainbow Fale had the privilege of partnering with community organisations across Tāmaki Makaurau and Waikato to create spaces where Māori and Pasifika Rainbow+ communities could come together, celebrate their identities, and strengthen their connections with one another.
Through Āniwaniwa Vibes and Under the Fale, we witnessed the power of culturally grounded, community-led gatherings that centred belonging, creativity, and collective wellbeing. While each event had its own unique flavour, both shared a common purpose: creating safe, affirming environments where Rainbow+ rangatahi, whānau, and community members could be fully themselves, free from judgement and surrounded by support.
Āniwaniwa Vibes: Creativity, Connection & Belonging
In partnership with Manatahi Trust, Āniwaniwa Vibes brought together Māori and Pasifika Rainbow+ rangatahi, their whānau, and the wider community for a vibrant celebration of Pride.
The event welcomed 20 participants who gathered to connect, share experiences, enjoy kai, and build meaningful relationships. At its heart, Āniwaniwa Vibes was about creating a space where young people felt safe to express their authentic selves while celebrating the strength, diversity, and beauty of our Rainbow+ Māori and Pasifika communities.
Participants took part in a range of hands-on creative workshops, including charm bracelet making, poi creation, painting, and sei clip making. These activities provided opportunities for self-expression, storytelling, and connection, while also leaving participants with meaningful keepsakes to take home. Whether it was a handcrafted bracelet, a painted artwork, or a carefully made sei, each creation became a tangible reminder of Pride, identity, and belonging.
The workshops were intentionally designed around creative practices that honoured the traditions of our Māori and Pasifika ancestors. By creating with our hands, participants connected with the legacy of those who wove, carved, crafted, and created before us. Through this process, culture, creativity, and identity became intertwined, reinforcing participants’ sense of belonging and affirming their place within their communities.
One of the most meaningful outcomes of Āniwaniwa Vibes was the inspiration it generated for future initiatives. Through the awhi, guidance, and collaboration between Manatahi Trust and Rainbow Fale, the event demonstrated the value of culturally responsive Pride celebrations. The positive feedback from participants highlighted the ongoing need for spaces where Rainbow+ rangatahi can connect, celebrate their identities, and experience genuine acceptance and community support.
Under the Fale: Strengthening Our Collective Village
Building on the same spirit of connection and affirmation, Under the Fale brought together Pasifika Rainbow+ rangatahi, aiga, and community members in Waikato for an afternoon centred on culture, creativity, and whakawhanaungatanga.
Delivered in partnership with K’aute Pasifika, the event welcomed 20 attendees and was strengthened by the presence of respected Rainbow+ community leaders Woshe Williams and Vai from Toitū Te Ao. Together, they helped create a space where participants could share stories, learn from one another, and celebrate the richness of Pasifika Rainbow+ identities.
Like Āniwaniwa Vibes, Under the Fale focused on hands-on creative experiences that encouraged self-expression and collective connection. Participants took part in sei-making workshops and collaborative Pride flag-making activities, working together to design flags that reflected their identities, cultures, values, and visions for their communities.
The flag-making workshop became a particularly powerful expression of collective pride. Each group’s design carried unique stories, symbols, and meanings that reflected both individual experiences and shared aspirations. The creativity and care poured into each flag highlighted the strength that comes from community, while reinforcing messages of acceptance, resilience, and belonging.
Beyond the creative activities, Under the Fale demonstrated the importance of collaboration in strengthening Rainbow+ communities across Aotearoa. The event created opportunities for organisations, leaders, and community members to connect and support one another in ways that extended beyond the day itself. It showed that when we bring together different skills, experiences, and perspectives, we can create environments that are welcoming, inclusive, and deeply affirming.
Most importantly, Under the Fale served as an opportunity to awhi and uplift the Pasifika Rainbow+ community within Waikato. It reinforced the idea that regardless of whether we come from Auckland, Waikato, or elsewhere, and regardless of the organisations we represent, we are stronger when we unite around a shared commitment to caring for and celebrating our Rainbow+ communities.
Looking Ahead
Together, Āniwaniwa Vibes and Under the Fale demonstrated the profound impact that culturally grounded Rainbow+ spaces can have on our communities. Through creativity, talanoa, laughter, shared meals, and collective care, participants experienced what it means to belong.
These events were more than Pride celebrations. They were opportunities to strengthen relationships, honour culture, celebrate diversity, and create spaces where Māori and Pasifika Rainbow+ people could be visible, valued, and affirmed.
As we look to the future, we hope these gatherings continue to grow and inspire further collaboration across our communities. The positive response from participants reinforces what we already know: when we create spaces rooted in culture, connection, and care, our rangatahi, whānau, and wider communities thrive.
Pride is not only about visibility. It is about belonging. It is about creating spaces where our people can show up as their full and authentic selves, knowing they are seen, celebrated, and loved. 🌈✨