Tips for celebrating Pride in New Zealand in 2023

Whereas our Pride month is already well behind us, in New Zealand they have just begun preparations for the Pride season that begins in early 2023. Pride is celebrated in the summer, and because New Zealand’s seasons are opposite to the northern hemisphere, Pride in New Zealand is celebrated in February-March.

So if you are planning to go to New Zealand and want to experience the country’s Pride in all its glory, be sure to read on to find out where to be and what activities you should definitely not miss. In order to travel to New Zealand, most travellers need a visa. The NZeTA is the electronic version of a visa that allows for easier processing.

Auckland Pride Festival

The Auckland Pride Festival is the largest Pride event in New Zealand and has been held there every year since 2013. The festival kicks off on 1 February 2023 and lasts almost the entire month. It starts with the Dawn Ceremony, where a ritual called Karakia is performed for protection of the festival. Throughout the month, various events take place including art exhibitions, drag and burlesque, theatre and musicals, youth events, and food festivals. The Festival concludes on 26 February with the Pride parade in downtown Auckland.

Christchurch Pride

Auckland’s Pride festivities will be followed soon after by the Christchurch Pride Festival in March. The festival begins on 10 March and concludes on 19 March with the Christchurch Pride Parade. Even though the Christchurch Pride Festival does not have as much name recognition as its Auckland equivalent, the festival is by no means any lesser. Throughout the week, various events such as live performances, film screenings, info nights, picnics, and a Pride dog walk take place throughout the city. 

Wellington Pride Parade

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, hosts the Wellington International Pride Parade every March. This year, the event was moved to September due to Covid-19, but in 2023, the Wellington Pride Parade will return in all its glory. The parade will be held on 11 March 2023, and events will be held throughout the city to celebrate inclusivity and diversity in the LGBTQI+ community.

Celebrating Pride in New Zealand? Apply for a NZeTA. 

Feel like getting to know the LGBTQI+ culture in New Zealand and experiencing one of the Pride festivals there? Then you’ll need to prepare proeprly. As always, plan your trip well in advance as flights can be more expensive around this time, and hotels in and around these cities will also fill up fast.

You will also need to apply for New Zealand visa (an NZeTA) to visit New Zealand. An NZeTA is not a physical visa, but an electronic travel authorisation that allows you to travel to New Zealand without a visa. The advantage of the NZeTA is that it is digitally linked to your passport, so you do not need to have a physical visa affixed to your passport.

Thereby, you also don’t have to worry about additional costs regarding the visa. The cost of the New Zealand visa also includes the New Zealand tourist tax, and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), which is used for the realisation of sustainable tourism projects in New Zealand.