New Plymouth Prison

This video captures the launch of the Rainbow Archive Project in Taranaki, part of Pride Week 2026. It centres on preserving and celebrating local LGBTQIA+ history.

It’s also important to acknowledge that Pride in Taranaki exists alongside a more complex history. Within living memory, men were imprisoned in places like New Plymouth Prison simply for being who they were, under laws that criminalised homosexuality until 1986. These weren’t distant stories from overseas — they happened here, in our own community. For many, that meant stigma, secrecy, and punishment for something that should never have been a crime. It’s a reminder of how far things have come, and why continuing to share, preserve, and celebrate our stories still matters today.