Let’s kick off Hamilton Pride Month with a bold after-dark celebration you won’t forget.
End Pride Week on a high note with food, entertainment, and a market that celebrates queer creativity.
Curated to align with Hamilton Pride 2026, the exhibition showcases the work of ten queer and takataapui artists whose art engages with time. These range from recent NCAA winner Zena Elliott’s trans-microbot installation ‘Hinekahurangi AKL-780’ and choreographic artist val smith’s installation ‘TRUSS’, to Neke Moa’s works of adornment ‘Ko te aroha noa’ and ‘Ngāti’, to Shannon Novak’s AI-altered digital photographs (originally drawn from the Collection of Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery and painstakingly modified). Diana Lee-Gobbit, a Suffolk-born multimedia artist is represented by the earliest pieces in the exhibition, three works on paper with futuristic and science fiction themes created in the 1980s. Alongside local artist Elliott, other Kirikiriroa Hamilton artists include 2023 Te Tumu Toi Arts Foundation Springboard recipient Tia Barrett, as well as Kelly Joseph, Nadia Gush and Kahurangiariki Smith. Former Wintec lecturer Lisa Benson is also represented in the exhibition.
The exhibition is curated by Drs Cassandra Barnett, Zena Elliott, and Nadia Gush. It is open 9am - 4pm weekdays, at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts gallery, University of Waikato. An artist talk will be held on 15 April at 11am, and a taonga puoro performance will be held on 16 April 6pm. All are free to attend.
Oro Mauri is a collective of irawhiti pūoro sound-play musicians who channel the elemental voices of taiao (the natural world), atua (ancestral forces), and tūpuna (ancestors) into living soundscapes.
Through the deep resonance of taonga pūoro — traditional Māori and Pasifika instruments — interwoven with voice, Oro Mauri creates performances that are both ancient and immediate, ceremonial and contemporary.
Each gathering is unique: a dialogue between people, place, and spirit, where sound becomes a vessel for memory, healing, and connection. The audience is invited to listen deeply, to be carried into spaces of stillness, vibration, and renewal.
This event is free to attend, all welcome!
Quizmaster supreme Sam Symons is back for the 5th annual Āniwaniwa Alliance Rainbow Quiz for HAMILTON PRIDE 2026. You know it, you love it, it's a fabulous pub quiz with a range of topics and questions.
Where: The Cook, 7 Cook St, Hamilton East
When: 6-8pm, Thu 16th April, 2026
How much: $30 per team (FREE entry for Wintec students)
Email aniwaniwa@wintec.ac.nz to book your team in NOW and secure your spot. (Teams up to 6 people)
Come along to our special Pride Week crochet workshop for LGBTQ+ community members and friends! You are invited to join us as we create colourful granny squares in all the shades of the rainbow.
Your squares will be sewn together into a vibrant Pride blanket — a symbol of creativity, community, and celebration. It’s a relaxed, friendly space to learn, chat, and connect while making something beautiful.
If you already know how to crochet granny squares and would enjoy passing on the knowledge, you are welcome to mingle and help out the beginners!
All materials are provided, and everyone is welcome. Spaces are limited, so make sure to register and secure your spot. Come craft with us and help bring our Pride blanket to life!
To close out the week, we return with our much-loved staple event, Pride in the Park, held at the Western Community Centre (Elliott Park) on April 19, from 11:00am–3:00pm. This is a free ticketed event, with a full afternoon of stalls, food, and entertainment for the whole community to enjoy.
✨🔥 WAIKATO, ARE YOU READY?! 🔥✨
One of the BIGGEST drag shows of the year is about to take over — and trust us, you do NOT want to miss this 💋
Get ready for a night bursting with jaw-dropping performances, fierce talent, and nonstop entertainment from some of the most incredible performers around 💃👑
🎤 Hosted by the iconic Miss Ribena NZ — bringing the energy, the glamour, and the sass all night long!
Grab your crew, bring your best vibes, and prepare to be absolutely SERVED ✨
This is more than a show… it’s an EXPERIENCE.
💄🎶 One night. One stage. Endless fabulousness.
#WaikatoDrag #DragShow #LiveEntertainment #MissRibenaNZ
“Inclusion and acceptance are paramount to me. I stand with our LGBTQIA+ Takataapuhi and Rainbow Community, ensuring support for all, regardless of ability, disability, culture, or background, both now and in the future.”
