New Zealand Journalists Raising Concerns About LGBTI Awards

Two veteran New Zealand broadcasters are joining a growing number of people, who are raising questions over the New Zealand LGBTI Awards.

The New Zealand LGBTI Awards are a follow-up event to the Australian LGBTI Awards which have been held in Sydney for the past two years and have this week also called for nominations.

Writing for the national New Zealand website stuff.co.nz, Alison Mau said she will not be involved in the New Zealand LGBTI Awards, turning down an offer to be a judge or host, a decision that she said was made after she saw law firm Russell McVeagh had been nominated for two awards.

Media outlets are reporting that there has been widespread community confusion and annoyance since the announcement of the event with many key community groups saying they had not been consulted in any way, and with many only hearing of the event after the announcement of the shortlist of nominees on July 1.

Among the key concerns raised are the lack of transparency and the financial barrier to attending the event, with tickets reportedly $200 (+GST) per person.

There are also significant concerns being raised around the nominees with the vast majority being corporations, some of whom are also sponsors of the awards ceremony.

Mau said that while the award ceremony may “be a good initiative” it has “not been an inclusive one, or a transparent one. It’s right that questions are being asked.”

Filmmaker and journalist David Farrier who was nominated for an award has also questioned the motives of the event he has dubbed “the gay Oscars.”

Writing for The Spin Off website, the former TV3 reporter said he had ‘spent a week talking to a variety of individuals and groups who seemed let down by their interactions with the organisers, feeling like their concerns weren’t being properly addressed’

Farrier said that despite the growing criticism of the event, it appears the organisers have no intention of backing down or making concessions to community concern, saying the awards “would barge on ahead, with or without them.”

Last Updated on Jul 5, 2018