The airport’s northern embankment along Cobham Drive is painted as a rainbow to welcome visitors to Wellington’s Pride Festival, although suggestions have been made that the CAA should be notified as the runway is no longer straight. Left: Wellington mayor Justin Lester.
Wellington Airport welcomed passengers arriving for the Wellington Pride Festival and the World ILGA Conference last month by painting a 3000m2 pride rainbow, roughly equivalent to eight netball courts, along the runway’s northern grass embankment runway.
According to Wellington Airport CEO Steve Sanderson, it was a unique month of LGBTQIAFD+ events for Wellington: “We’re looking forward to welcoming those attending the events and being part of the celebration of diversity and inclusion around the capital,” he said.
“Wellington Airport is a sponsor of the ILGA conference and proud supporter of community events like the Wellington Pride Festival, which was a runner-up in the Arts and Culture category of the Wellington Airport Community Awards for 2018.”
The embankment area was painted with temporary turf paint which lasts about three to four weeks and will display each of the six traditional and symbolic pride colours.
Wellington mayor Justin Lester said he was delighted with the rainbow.
“Wellington is one of the most inclusive cities on the planet and we want to show our pride at holding the ILGA World Conference.
“Last year we painted the Rainbow Crossing on Dixon Street—it’s not quite as big—to show how we embrace everyone. The airport rainbow was the first many ILGA attendees saw and I am sure it made them feel welcome.”
Co-chair of the Wellington Pride Festival, Roxy Coevers, said, “To my knowledge it’s the largest scale painted rainbow in honour of pride in New Zealand, and the festival team is excited to have this very powerful and visual display of solidarity for LGBTQIAF+ folks during our yearly celebrations.”
Painting the rainbow took around three days and a time-lapse video was created to capture the painting process.
- Report by John King and photography by Mark Tantrum.