The PBA Board formally advised the producer of the Pride Parade last night that we are withdrawing all support for the Auckland Pride Parade in 2019 including all financial support.
The Board met with the Auckland Pride Festival Board last Tuesday to discuss the ‘Police uniform ban’ and expressed clearly that we would find it very hard to continue to support the Auckland Pride Festival 2019 in the event that the police were not permitted to march in uniform.
The PBA board was assured at that meeting that a positive outcome was hoped for and would be communicated via a press release later last week.
This did not eventuate and the Auckland Pride Festival press release (15 November) stated that the New Zealand Police will still not be permitted to march in uniform.
As such the PBA has made the decision to withdraw all support for Auckland Pride 2019, including all financial support.
The Board and all our stakeholders view the New Zealand Police as a very important part of the community.
Furthermore, the feedback that the PBA has received is that the Police should not be prevented from marching in uniform in the 2019 parade.
The Board did however make it clear that it has always and will always support a Pride Parade in Ponsonby on the basis that it does not discriminate against any individual, group or organisation that wishes to participate.