New Zealand MP pushes for Auckland Mardi Gras parade

Nikki Kaye MP

Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye is pushing strongly for Auckland to create a Sydney Mardi Gras-style parade to celebrate the country's biggest glbt community and provide economic benefits for the city.

"I represent a strong lgbt community," she says in a column penned today for GayNZ.com. "Nearly 10 years on from the last Hero Parade, it is time to explore having a Parade again."

Kaye, a National MP, believes the creation of the super city's new Tourism, Events and Economic Development Council Controlled Organisation, which is specifically tasked to research events like this for Auckland, presents an opportunity to swing the resources of the city into helping usher such a parade into being.

"I have written to the Council Controlled Organisation and the Mayor asking for their support to assist with some feasibility work for the Parade."

"I think if Auckland businesses also supported the Parade it could be a great celebration of the lgbt community while providing an economic benefit to Auckland," she says, adding that "an Auckland Mardi Gras Parade could be a wonderful addition to New Zealand's tourism and events calendar."

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