March 06, 2023
Trans flag raised with pride at parliament


Green MP and rainbow spokesperson Elizabeth Kerekere says it’s great to see the number of young people who were part of this year’s pride parade in Wellington.
Dr Kerekere hosted the parade at parliament.
She says bringing together the various communities within the takatāpui world including intersex, bi-sexuals, street workers, transgender and takatāpui was a sign of the changing face of New Zealand and Māoridom.
“A mihi out to all those parents of trans children who were there not to suppress who their child is but to love them and support them to be who they are and that they can come to this place and raise a flag in the front of parliament. We are one of the few parliaments in the world where you can even do that and they can do that as part of the community and it’s a very proud thing for me as an elder in this community,” she says.
Dr Kerekere says the right to protest is one thing, but that needs to be translated into rights within other systems such as health, education and justice.