Following this evening’s announcement that Auckland is moving to Alert Level Three for three days in response to Auckland’s latest community cases of COVID-19, Auckland Pride is implementing its Festival Alert Level Three plan with immediate effect. This moves the Festival online, with some events postponing or cancelling due to the alert level restrictions.

Auckland Pride is working extensively with all of our festival event organisers to implement or plan for their Alert Level Three plans, which will be finalised on the Auckland Pride website before 5pm on Monday 15th of February. We will review these settings daily and will prepare our event organisers to implement these plans should they be extended. Updates on our Festival events will occur daily.

We have been incredibly lucky to have had two weeks of the Auckland Pride Festival at Alert Level One, and we acknowledge the anxiety that those who have attended our events now face. We have followed all Government regulations relating to COVID-19 and have received anecdotal reports of high compliance with contact tracing – for which we’re really appreciative. Today Auckland Pride has been in communications with Auckland Regional Public Health Services and have assured them that we are ready to assist with contact tracing if required.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation and receive advice from health officials and our community about how we proceed. Auckland Pride unequivocally supports this decision made by the Government and implore our community to follow the restrictions that Alert Level Three mandates. Updates to our community will be provided when we have them and we will continue to provide transparent, evidence-based, and up-to-date information.

Each event has made its own decision about how their event will adapt to Alert Level Three restrictions, and these can be found on the individual event listings on the Auckland Pride website.

Auckland Pride are withholding a decision on the Pride March & Party on February 27th until later in the week, pending latest advice

Auckland Pride wishes to reiterate that we have planned for this eventuality, and are keeping the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community as our number one priority. We’ll provide further updates when they come to hand. In the meantime, we ask that everyone follow Government advice around Alert Level Three, to stay at home, wear masks, and observe social distancing. We can stamp out COVID-19 again in our community, as we’ve done twice before.

We know that this is a stressful time for our community, artists and event organisers. OUTLine continues to provide support by calling 0800 688 5463 between 6-9pm. We will get through this together, so look after yourselves, be kind, and let’s unite against COVID-19.

Our full COVID-19 plans can be found on our website and on individual event listings. 

The 2021 Auckland Pride Festival is made possible through the support of our Major Partners: Spark & Rocketwerkz, and our Government Partners: NZ Major Events, Auckland Unlimited, and Auckland Council.

The 2021 Auckland Pride Festival runs 3-28 February.

For further enquiries contact: Max Tweedie, Director of Pride [email protected] 027 868 0774