IDAHOBIT — 17 MAY Today we recognise IDAHOBIT — the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia. It’s a day to stand together against discrimination and celebrate the strength, diversity, and resilience of Rainbow communities across Aotearoa and around the world.

THREE WEEKS TO GO There are just three weeks left to apply for the Foundation North Fund and Peter Rule Fund. If you’re planning a project supporting our communities, now’s the time to get your application in. Applications close 5pm, Friday 5 June. Find out more at RuleFoundation.nz or email [email protected].

PINK SHIRT DAY — 15 MAY Tomorrow is Pink Shirt Day across Aotearoa New Zealand. This is a day to stand together against bullying and celebrate kindness, inclusion, and aroha. Everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and supported for who they are. Learn more at pinkshirtday.org.nz

Meet E Kare Collective. Through the Ata Pūao film project, they were able to create a powerful suite of visual assets including behind-the-scenes imagery, motion content, and tailored social media materials to support the film’s promotion and visibility across Aotearoa. “Thanks to this support, we’ve been able to create a powerful suite of visual assets (behind-the-scenes imagery, motion content, and tailored social media materials) which have already begun to reach thousands of takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and queer community members across Aotearoa. These visuals do more than promote a film, they provide visibility, affirmation, and cultural recognition to communities who are so often misrepresented or missing entirely from public-facing media. The creatives we worked with brought immense skill, care, and pride to this kaupapa. Being able to compensate them fairly was not just a practical necessity, it was a way to whakamana their contributions. Our photographer, videographer, and designer each shared how meaningful it was to be entrusted with a project so close to their hearts, and to be supported in bringing their full creative selves to the table. This kind of support fosters not just good work, but transformative work, where creatives feel empowered, respected, and seen.” This mahi was proudly supported by the Rule Foundation. Connect with E Kare Collective here @ekarecollective

ONE MONTH TO GO Applications are now open for the Foundation North Fund and Peter Rule Fund.If you’ve got a project supporting our communities, we encourage you to apply. Applications close 5pm, Friday 5 June. Find out more at RuleFoundation.nz or email [email protected].

Meet the Tuatara Collective. Through the Hau Festival, they were able to raise visibility and showcase diverse voices from our communities. “The support from the Rule Foundation made a huge difference for HAU Festival. It contributed to the creation of space for authentic storytelling and bring together artists across generations, while making sure Māori, Pasifika, and LGBTQIA2+ voices were front and centre through original, relevant work. There are few queer-focused philanthropic organisations out there, so having Rule Foundation backing our project really means a lot and helps make things possible.” This kaupapa/mahi was proudly supported by the Rule Foundation. Connect with the Tuatara Collective here @tuataracollective

Applications are now open for the Foundation North Fund and the Peter Rule Fund. If you’ve got a project supporting our communities, we encourage you to apply. Closes 5pm, Friday 5 June. Find out more at RuleFoundation.nz or email [email protected].

Lots of beautiful taitamariki ( children & young people) moments and memories this week. 1: Hugs from some wee ones whose māmā needed some support last week. Their big brothers have been in our kiwiMana Kaiārahi mentoring program. 2: A gorgeous letter from a teen going through some really rough stuff, telling us why she would appreciate support and how it would “ help me stay on track and work towards my goals”. 3: Happy to share my clogs! 4: Our original, gorgeous kiwiMANA tribe ( 2017 memory that popped up!) Thinking of them brings bursts of aroha and pride, ( tinged with grief) and lots of gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of their lives and witness their blossoming and growth. Pride in each of them for navigating challenges & trauma and picking themselves up and reaching for their dreams. It hasn’t been easy, and we’ve shared great loss, but we’ve made lifelong connections that mattered. 5:This photo memory popped up. Poverty in Aotearoa is real. In 2014 we met this very vulnerable and sweet fella at his home with his siblings and parents. We helped with essentials and navigation to services for a few rough years. 6: Beautiful kiddos in Hokianga after the March floods with some Angel goodies- love this!! 7: Last month we shared Youth Mentor training with Ross McCook- @heartforyouth - our volunteer mentors rock! ( we desperately need more good youth mentors-yell out if you want to know more) 8: Our cool-as rangatahi socialise and chill out in our Rainbow Rangatahi Club on Thursdays. (Thanks to Rotary Kerikeri for help with furnishing). To our sponsors, funders, and volunteers: YOU are who make this all possible. We can’t do it without you. If you’d like to chat about partnership opportunities, and help make a difference, give us a call 029 0290 1929 Or contact us via the website.😇 Thanks to our major funders @foundationnorth @hapai.hapori_community.matters @rule_foundation and major sponsors like @barfootandthompsonkerikeri

Amid the nightlife of a new city, a young Māori trans woman reckons with safety, isolation, and the fragile bonds of old friendships outgrown — as the promise of belonging rises just beyond the horizon. 🪩 Ata Pūao is a scripted drama short film commissioned Day One Shorts by emerging young filmmakers from Aotearoa New Zealand releasing Monday 13th October! Writer/Director: Allie Howell @aleijd_ Screenplay: Allie Howell Story: Pūmanawa Rawiri & Allie Howell fka.manilasativa Producer: Angel Kameta @angel_kameta This is the second year we've had the opportunity to fund eight teams courtesy of NZ on Air @nz_on_air and Te Māngai Pāho @te_mangai_paho , in collaboration with our two screen partners; RNZ @radionewzealand & Whakaata Māori @maoriplus . Ata Pūao was made by E Kare Collective, with support from Rule Foundation and Burnett Foundation Aotearoa. 🎟️ Tickets are still available for the encore screening on Sunday 12 October. Get your tix by visiting the link in our bio. All films will be available to screen online via RNZ, MĀORI+, our website and YouTube. Follow us on all social channels @dayone_nz to see the films when they go live. All links in bio.

So proud to have supported this kaupapa by the angels of @utu_a_matimati through our 2024 Rainbow Wellbeing Legacy Fund 💚 We absolutely loved sharing this zine with our trustees at our recent AGM.

Very proud to have been able to support @radiqalmovement through our Foundation North Fund 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈 “Radiqal Movement cultivates a community where queer and gender-diverse folk can find holistic wellness, connection, and tūrangawaewae through joyful exercise and movement. Based in Tāmaki Makaurau, the rainbow-led charitable organisation offers group fitness classes, gender-affirming personal training, community exercise groups, and events. Radiqal challenges harmful narratives around exercise by creating spaces that centre body neutrality, manākitanga, autonomy, and joyful, holistic approaches to movement. The organisation is committed to fostering environments where rainbow communities can move safely, feel empowered in their bodies, boost their well-being, and build strong community connections. Radiqal Movement likes to push beyond the traditional exercise ‘box’, offering diverse opportunities that cater to those with lived experiences of disability, neurodivergence, gender identities, sexualities, and fitness journeys - communities often excluded from mainstream fitness spaces.”

Proud to have supported this kaupapa through our Foundation North Fund 🏳️‍🌈 @elderqueers @foundationnorth “Intergenerational connection helps to grow resilience within our community. With this project, young people are learning from older people, and kaumātua are learning from rangatahi. It is really beautiful to see that exchange of knowledge. It takes courage to sit down and talk to someone you don’t know. Once people decide they want to talk to one of our elder queers, they stay for a really long time. We are making space for more than a quick hello. Elder Queers Give Advice is about having a kōrero that really connects you to someone else’s experience and story, and makes you feel seen and heard in return. It has been a privilege to see how this brings people of all generations together. Many of our elders have expressed the need for this project to happen beyond the Pride season. There is a real drive from everyone taking part to continue to build upon the community that surrounds Elder Queers Give Advice, and I am so excited to see what this project becomes in the next few years!”