Rainbow Archive Project Launch 2026

Pride Taranaki and Puke Ariki are proud to Launch the Rainbow Archive Project.

This is a free event in the Puke Ariki Museum Foyer. Chris Brickell is a widely published author and historian, works include Mates & Lovers, The Robert Lorde Diaries .... Visit Chris' Website 

The Rainbow Archive Project is a joint iniative between Puke Ariki Museum and Pride Taranaki undertaken through a Memondandum of Unterstanding that was signed in November 2025 following discussions over the previous 18 months. The project was described by PukeAriki in a Press Release:

Here at the museum, we’re excited to announce a new partnership with Pride Taranaki to collect, preserve, and promote the stories of Taranaki’s LGBTQIA+ communities. The resulting archive will be shared through Puke Ariki’s website, events, and exhibitions, and provide a rich resource for researchers.

 Pride Taranaki Chair, Chris Herlihy, says: “A number of remarkable LGBTQIA+ individuals in Taranaki have made groundbreaking contributions to our society, yet their stories remain largely untold. This partnership will honour their contributions, and support and validate the community currently living in Taranaki.”

 I wholeheartedly agree. Our role as kaitiaki of Taranaki’s collective history is to ensure all voices in our community are represented, and support greater understanding and inclusion. A big thanks to Curator Glenn Martin for shepherding the partnership into place with Pride Taranaki. Keep an eye out for Pride Week next year, when we’ll mark the first outcomes.