Pride in Marlborough

Celebrating identity, community and change

Every year between 1 – 30 June, Pride Month is celebrated across the globe to honour the LGBTQIA+ community and embrace visibility, inclusion, and identity in all its rich diversity. While cities like Auckland and Wellington have long hosted parades and festivals, regions like Marlborough are also stepping up with powerful, homegrown celebrations.

Leading the charge is Pride Wairau, a vibrant community-led festival returning for its second year from June 6 to June 15. Behind the festival is the Pride Wairau Manatōpū Committee, a passionate group of individuals united by a vision to uplift and empower rainbow communities across the region. Chairperson Jesse North has been instrumental in shaping this kaupapa, and his words reflect the heart of the movement.

“Pride Wairau Manatōpū was born out of a shared need for visibility, representation, and connection for rainbow communities in the Marlborough region,” Jesse explains. “It started with a conversation between friends – sharing our lived experiences, our hopes and the gaps we saw in our own backyard. From there, the kōrero grew. We connected with like-minded people, established organisations and passionate professionals who all believed in the same vision. Now, almost two years on from that first conversation, we’re about to open the second-ever Pride Wairau Festival.”

For Jesse, joining the committee was deeply personal. After witnessing the lack of representation in Marlborough, he knew it was time for more than just symbolic support – a cultural shift was needed. “I knew we needed more than just a small event,” he says. “We needed a full cultural shift, a voice for the people who might not always feel seen or heard. I wanted to help bring that change, so stepping up to be part of the committee felt like a natural next step.”

That step has led to a flourishing movement that now resonates far beyond the rainbow community. Pride Wairau has grown into a regional celebration of togetherness, solidarity, and joy which engages local businesses, whānau, schools, and allies alike.

In a region like Marlborough, the impact of Pride Month takes on a particular significance. It’s about visibility – but also about changing narratives. “Pride is essential for Marlborough,” Jesse says. “It represents so much more than a celebration; it’s an affirmation of the rainbow community’s presence and resilience. For so long, the conversation around gender, sexuality and identity has been sidelined in smaller regions like ours.” He adds that Pride is about embracing inclusivity as a right, not a trend – and recognising the vibrant contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals to the life of the region.

When Pride Wairau launched its first festival, it was a leap of faith. Jesse recalls the uncertainty and curiosity that surrounded the initial planning. But today, the event is met with enthusiasm and growing support.

“What started as an exploration of ‘what is this?’ has transformed into ‘when’s the next one? People are showing up in ways we never imagined. Allies, local businesses and whānau are all coming forward to be part of something bigger than themselves.”

The evolution of community attitudes has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey. As more people engage and participate, the festival continues to reshape perceptions and build bridges.

The Pride Wairau Festival will feature a colourful lineup of events — from family friendly gatherings to drag shows, workshops, panel discussions, and more. Each event is designed to invite connection and spark meaningful conversations, while also providing plenty of space for joy, creativity, and celebration.

And the heart of the festival? According to Jesse, it’s about leaving people feeling uplifted and inspired. “We want everyone who attends our events to feel like they’re part of something bigger,” he says. “Not just a festival, but a movement for change. The key messages I hope people take away are: You are seen. You are loved. And you are worthy of celebration. Our community is diverse, and our strength lies in embracing that diversity. When we come together, we create a world where everyone can live authentically and proudly. And, of course, we want attendees to leave with a sense of joy — because Pride is about lifting each other up, dancing together and feeling the collective pride of being.”

For more information on Pride Wairau, visit pridewairau.co.nz

Buckwheat brings the glam

This year’s Pride Marlborough celebrations are set to shimmer even brighter with the arrival of one of Aotearoa’s most iconic drag performers – Edward Cowley, better known by his stage name, Buckwheat. With a career that spans nearly four decades, Edward is a true trailblazer in New Zealand’s entertainment scene, seamlessly blending glamour, advocacy, and cultural identity. As Buckwheat, he’s a fixture in Auckland’s entertainment scene and at national Pride events, known for his sharp wit and show-stopping presence. Offstage, Edward spent nearly ten years with the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, championing community health, and has also made his mark in sport – competing in international bodybuilding and charity boxing. Co-hosting the Opening Night Party at Pride Wairau with the fabulously fearless Tess Tickle, together they will be a force of nature – equal parts glamour, grit, and glitter.

Can you tell me a little about your journey into entertainment as Buckwheat?

Buckwheat is two years shy of being around for four decades. Primarily, as a character which was born to host and create friendly supportive environments for a gay nightclub in a time when being gay was illegal – the character was a breath of fresh air to share joy and laughter. I have travelled the world with Buckwheat as the catalyst to Arts Festivals, International Awards, conferences – you name it, Buckwheat’s done it. Buckwheat has witnessed the acceptance of drag artistry from the dingy dressing room in gay nightclubs when being gay was illegal, to being welcomed at arts festivals – like the Dance Biennale in Venice as one of the opening festival acts. As a character, the opportunity to transform events into showcases of humour and parody, to make people feel welcomed, engaged and energised has enabled Buckwheat to keep on top of her game and continue to shine.

As a renowned drag artiste, what does performing at Pride Wairau mean to you personally?

Being part of Pride Wairau provides an opportunity to showcase, celebrate and show support for our rainbow sisters and brothers. If we think about what is happening internationally to our rainbow family – there is an intentional scale-back of initiatives to allow people to just be. Responding to the call to support local rainbow community events continues to shine a pathway for those in our community to be part of the magic of celebrating people for who they are. I feel absolutely blessed to have been invited to be part of the Pride Wairau celebrations for June 2025.

If you could perform alongside any well-known legend, who would it be?

Hands down, Patti LaBelle – if you've ever witnessed Patti LaBelle in action, her energy is infectious. She is funny, charming, witty and can sang! She does an incredible rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow which brings the house down. There are many legends for Buckwheat – but if I had to choose one – it would be Patti La Belle.

What's your preshow ritual before hitting the stage?

Depending on what time showtime is – the transformation time prior to getting onstage provides an opportunity to be the calm before the storm! A time to be still, apply makeup, and be mindful of the task at hand and the event which is about to take place. This ritual takes place three hours before show time. There are situations when time is limited and makeup time is shorter – and whilst this can work, I find sometimes my headspace has to catch up with the character in all her glory. The final ritual before putting on padding, stockings, corsets, costumes and wig is to take a quick loo stop, because once all the finery is on, it is a long process if you have to spend a penny.

If you could sum up your performance at Pride Wairau in four words, what would they be and why?

Glamourous, joyous, colourful and memorable! These words encompass celebration, which is the brief for the event. In my experience, if you combine those four elements they create drag magic! For Pride Wairau – I want to create DRAG MAGIC for those in attendance.

Why is Pride Month particularly important for a region like Marlborough?

Pride Months in any region throughout Aotearoa, including Marlborough, allow for the conversations to continue to happen for Rainbow Communities alongside their local communities. They create space for tolerance, celebrations and allow us to share joy with our wider community. Over the years, I've come to realise people only fear things they are not familiar with or things which might hurt them. By opening events to create supportive environments and showcase the joy our rainbow communities they can become part of the celebrations with us. There is nothing to fear but fear itself. I look forward to sharing joy with Pride Wairau soon.

Ramon Te Wake: lights, camera, pride

Filmmaker, actor, storyteller, and all-round creative force Ramon Te Wake is bringing her acclaimed short film Wait, Wait Now!? to Pride Wairau, and her energy is as infectious as the story she tells. A born storyteller, Ramon’s journey has seen her move through music, drag, and eventually to filmmaking – where she’s now making waves globally. Her latest film, which explores friendship, freedom, and queer identity, has already screened at the BFI Flare London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival and reached over 150,000 viewers through the international Five Films for Freedom initiative. Ahead of her visit to Marlborough, we caught up with Ramon to chat filmmaking, friendship, and why Pride matters more than ever.

Let’s start at the beginning. What was your journey into the creative world like?

I was born in Dargaville and raised in Porirua, and my parents are from the Far North, but my creative path really took off when I moved to Wellington at 18 because I wanted to be a showgirl! Then at 23, I headed to Auckland to chase music. I lived off the bones of my bum but honestly, they were the best years of my life – drag shows, culture, sisterhood. That era, especially the mid-90s, was such a rich time for Māori and Pacific arts. It grounded me. Fast forward 20 years, I’ve been writing and directing ever since, telling stories and getting paid to do what I love.

What can Marlborough audiences expect from Wait, Wait Now!?

It’s a 12-minute short that was made from grassroots love and hustle. So many people worked on it just for the kaupapa, not the pay cheque. It’s about two young queer kids who create a magical world of friendship and performance. It’s a love letter to queer youth, to friendship, and to freedom. And it's done the rounds at BFI London, Five Films for Freedom, and more. It’s wild! Honestly, seeing it picked up by global festivals and watched by thousands was surreal. It’s a little film with a big heart, and I think the world needed, especially now, when queer and trans stories are so necessary and visibility is under threat.

What inspired you to create this particular story?

It’s based on my own childhood. My best friend and I, both young queer kids, would put on shows for each other. We took it seriously – cue cards, costumes, the works. It’s about that safe space we created for ourselves, and how that shaped who we are today. We’re both trans women, and we've been through a lot, but we still laugh about those shows – now with wine instead of cue cards!

When did you know you were meant to be a filmmaker?

I think it was always in me. I started writing to make sense of my feelings when I didn’t have the language for being trans. Then came music, then storytelling on stage, and eventually to film. After Covid I made my first drama series, The Boy, the Queen, and Everything In Between, and I’ve been living in that creative, dramatic world ever since.

Why is it important to bring Pride celebrations to regions like Marlborough?

Smaller towns need these stories even more than the big cities. When we reached out to Pride Wairau, they got back to us immediately with so much love. That meant the world. It’s in these grassroots spaces that change really happens. Young takatāpui rangatahi need to see themselves reflected and celebrated. That’s what this is all about.

And finally – if you could go back in time and give your younger self some advice?

Don't be so sad. It will work out. Don't be so hard on yourself, you are brilliant, and you will be brilliant, and you will do brilliant things with your life, and hold those ones you love dearly, because they are the ones that are going to be your backbone. I think it's really important for when you find your people, really hold on to them. When you find the ones that support and love you, hold on to them because they are the ones that will help you get through some of the most challenging times in your life. That’s been absolutely true in my life.