Rainbow groups and activities
CampGround Rainbow Comedy Night
Thursday 18th April 8pm @ Ivy Bar and Cabaret, 63 Cuba St.
A comedy showcase of our best LGBTQAII+ standup comedians, on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Featuring polished pros and hilarious up-and-comers. Support your community by laughing with us! ... tix on eventfinda or at the door.
Rainbow Dragon Club
Sunday 21st April 6pm @ Smart Newtown (next to Newtown Library)
A fortnightly boardgame and tabletop game club for the LGBTQ+ community and for women.
You are welcome to bring along your own games, miniatures, and paints. Or just bring
yourself and try out a game in their collection! Follow on facebook.
Peacocking - Thee Opulent Drag King Show
Saturday 27th April 10pm @ Ivy Bar & Cabaret
The boys are back in town and let's just say that they are plumped, preened, and ready
for you to gaze upon their sparkly splendour.
Welcome to PEACOCKING! Thee opulent drag king show!
With ostentatious outfits, blinding rhinestones and outrageous antics. These boys are here
to mesmerise, hypnotise, and leave you screaming for more ... facebook event page.
LGBTI history walk tours
Turquoise Tour - Saturday 4th May 1pm
Join us on this 90-minute walk tour of inner city Wellington. Learn about:
- Activism and homosexual law reform
- Homosexuality being used as a political weapon
- LGBTI rainbow personalities and artists
- Early social meeting places
More info on the walktours webpage.
The tour is free but please register at www.taonga.nz/walktours. No bookings no walk!
Walk Tours NZ is a volunteer group that offers free, accessible, inclusive and community-focused walking tours around Wellington highlighting the city’s rich LGBTI rainbow heritage. Usually held on the first Sunday of the month. They walk on flat, accessible public footpaths. Tours are limited to approximately 20 walkers.
NZ International Comedy Festival 3 - 26 May
It's coming to Wellington with a mere fourteen shows in the Queer Comedy (LGBTQIA+) category. Too many to list here but this looks rather delicious ...
Wellington Comedy Club Rainbow Showcase
Wednesday 15th May 8:15pm @ Te Auaha Tapere Nui (cnr Dixon & Cuba)
Experience a night of big laughs and queer joy at the Wellington Comedy Club Rainbow Showcase, proudly part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. This one-night-only show at Te Auaha is hosted by the incredible James Mustapic. Also featuring iconic Wellingtonian and star of Wellington Paranormal Karen O’Leary; saxophonist Eilish Wilson; and winner of Best Joke and Best Comedian 2023 Wellington Comedy Awards Booth The Clown ... more at comedyfestival.co.nz.
Rainbow Wellington
Rainbow Wellington is an LGBTI+ organisation that focuses on networking, events and lobbying. Their website has information about past and present campaigns as well as directories of local LGBTI+ businesses, groups and activities. Follow on facebook
The Glamaphones
The Glamaphones are Wellington's all-inclusive rainbow choir based at St Andrews on the Terrace. They are a friendly mixed choir and welcome anyone who wishes to sing. They sing a range of music including pop, classical, spirituals, world, choral, musical, and jazz classics. Follow the Glamaphones on facebook or their website. Rehearsals on Thursdays 6.30pm (usually) at St Andrews on the Terrace.
Same sex dancing classes
The Sunday night DANSS classes are for Gay and Lesbian people and friends who wish
to learn some classical Ballroom, some funky Latin American and some elegant New Vogue
dance moves. A partner is not necessary however an attitude in wanting to learn and
having fun is required.
Classes are held at the Thistle Hall, corner of Cuba and Arthur Streets.
Beginner's class start at 7 pm and the Intermediate classes start at 8 pm. Payment
is by koha/donation.
Check the DANSS facebook page or website for more information.
PrideNZ.com audio archive
Follow news of the latest audio files of interviews and events added to PrideNZ on their facebook page
- The Events section on the Pride NZ webside has audio from many queer/rainbow events, conferences and campaigns from around the country - a treasure trove with more being added regularly.
- The On This Day page has a rich mix of rainbow life - from events that happened over 100 years ago to today.
- An interactive map of rainbow related sites in Wellington with links to interviews and articles on the website.
- Check out the historical timeline of GLBTTIQ events and people in New Zealand. Sample it by decade or settle in to read the big page with the full list.
Gay bars
Ivy Bar and Cabaret
James Smiths Basement, 49 Cuba Street - ivybar.co.nz - they have lots of shows and events
S&M's - Scotty and Mal's Cocktail and Lounge Bar
176 Cuba Street - www.scottyandmals.co.nz
facebook and other social media groups
- Rainbow Hutt Valley | Te Ngākau Kahukura o Te Awa Kairangi
- Queer crafters in the Hutt
- Queer whānau building Pōneke
- Queer Network NZ - Wellington Chapter - information sharing network
- Queer Wellington
- Tīwhanawhana is a takatāpui community group in Wellington that welcomes people of all diverse sexualities and gender. The kaupapa of Tīwhanawhana is primarily for takatāpui: building community, telling our stories and leaving legacies.
- Out at Work - union group
- UniQ Victoria - facebook groups for queer students
- UniQ Massey Wellington
- Lost Gay Wellington
- Queer Network NZ Wellington Chapter
- Vinegar Hill Gay Camping for rainbow people and their families over Christmas and the New Year holiday period
and no doubt there are many many more ...
Social sporty groups
- Rainbow Team Wellington - has an omnibus list of sporty and cultural groups.
- Frontrunners - a friendly group for gay and lesbian runners meeting twice a week for sociable runs.
- Different ropes - queer indoor climbing Wednesdays 5pm-7pm at Fergs Rockclimbing, Queens Wharf
- Different Strokes - a GLBT friendly swim club in Wellington.
- Wellington Racqueteers - a group for LGBTI folks who are interested in playing social badminton.
- Different Spokes - Wellington queer cycling group
- Wildcats Women's Cricket - Women’s Social 8 a side T20 (20/20) cricket team
- Richter City Roller Derby - Wellington’s all female, flat track roller derby league
- Wellington Rainbow Bowling League on facebook
- Wellington Wanderers - a rainbow community group who walk every Saturday morning - open to all. They try and alternate between Wellington and Kapiti areas each fortnight. All walks are events in the Facebook group
- Rainbow Outdoors Wellington - A group for queer and/or trans people - including takatāpui, intersex, and non-binary folk - to get involved in outdoors trips such as tramping, day-hikes, camping, climbing, etc., and to meet other like-minded people.