The sixth annual New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards ceremony saw Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University awarded both the Partners Life Supreme Award and the Simpson Grierson Impact Award.

Student Development Coordinator Sam Duffy, Auckland Rainbow Student Rep Kate Duin, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor Connor McLeod, Distance Rainbow Student Rep Carlee Gregory and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Student Global Engagement Dr Tere McGonagle-Daly.

As well as the Supreme and Impact Awards, the University also received a Highly Commended in the Pride Pledge Non-Commercial Sector Award category.

Held in Auckland, the New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards are the only rainbow-focused awards programme in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Awards celebrate workplace leadership, innovation, best practice and collaboration by organisations committed to rainbow diversity and inclusion.

We caught up with our Rainbow Student Representatives Kate Duin (Auckland) and Carlee Gregory (Distance) about what the awards nights were like for them.

Massey University won the wellbeing category, was highly commended in the non-commercial sector category, and took home the supreme award at the 2024 Rainbow Excellence Awards last week. What was your initial reaction to our university taking the big win?

Carlee

Being there in person at the awards ceremony I was pleasantly surprised when they announced that Massey had won the Supreme Award, it just seemed like a dream come true for the Kāhui Irarau team and I was delighted!

Kate

After a very brief period of shock, I was filled with joy! It was such an achievement for all the hard mahi that rainbow and takatāpui staff and students have contributed over so many years. This reminds me of the whakataukī "Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini - Success is not the work of an individual, but the work of many". I think it is also something that our staff and students need at the moment. There's been a lot of doom and gloom surrounding Massey's financial situation so it's a welcome change to have something special to celebrate and reflect on.

How long have you been at Massey for? During your time here, how would you describe what the University is like from a rainbow perspective? Have you seen any progress?

Carlee

I first studied at Massey in 2016 and at that time I wasn't aware of much of a Rainbow student community. The establishment of Kāhui Irarau and the strengthening of UniQ's on each campus has been a great step towards bringing our community together.

Kate

I've been at Massey as a student for 8 years now. I initially began as an overseas distance student so I didn't get the opportunity to engage in activities or groups on campus. However, I remember being frustrated as a rainbow student as I noticed a lack of rainbow visibility, particularly with the literature we were given in courses. I often weaved queer literature through my assignments to highlight the gaps in our learning and in postgrad (where you have more autonomy over your assignments and essays), I'd write about queer topics to expand my knowledge base. Over the past several years, I have noticed significant improvements in rainbow visibility at Massey in many ways. I love that we now have dedicated rainbow spaces on our campuses to bring rainbow and takatāpui students together and it's wonderful to see these come to life when they're being used. I hope that this achievement amplifies how important this kaupapa is and drives even more change in the years to come.

Carlee Gregory (European-Māori lineage - Ngāpuhi (Te Kapotai). Carlee is studying a BA in Classics, and is in her 3rd year. Carlee's focus in 2024 has been on LGBTQIA+ distance community growth and consultation. She is a proud Westie, part of the disabled community; bipolar, neurodiverse. And her obesessions include true crime, Ghostemane, TOOL, mythology, and magic 

While it’s great getting award, there is still a significant amount of work to be done. Can you tell us a little bit about your aspirations for rainbow and takatāpui communities here at Massey, and in the wider context of Aotearoa?

Carlee

We must continue to fight for visibility and representation at all levels within the University and anywhere key decision making occurs that impacts our community. We must ensure that the progress we have made with Rainbow initiatives at Massey is maintained long term and that through those the voice of Rainbow students is heard and amplified.

Kate

I'd still love to see rainbow-specific scholarships offered internally by Massey, as students who undertake rainbow research can be excluded from many external scholarships. I'd also love to see rainbow peer support or wellbeing groups on offer across the three campuses. This was something we tried to start this year but hit a few roadblocks. In the wider context of Aotearoa, I'd love to see us have a queer or takatāpui prime minister in the next term. I feel like after this current govt, it's exactly what we'll need!

Kate is a second-year Doctor of Clinical Psychology student based at the Ōtehā campus. This is her 8th year as a Massey student and during that time I've been an overseas, distance and internal student at different stages of my journey. Kate's doctoral research is centred around affirming difference within neurodivergent and rainbow spaces through creative practices.

In the light of the awards, some might be wondering why Massey University won out against so many other organisations. Why do you think judges decided we should be the winners in 2024?

Carlee

The Rainbow initiatives at Massey such as the creation of paid rep roles, the establishment of Rainbow rooms on each campus and well attended student events demonstrates the culmination of the efforts Rainbow staff and students' perseverance over years to ensure our community is supported and shown they are important and respected.

Kate

I believe it was the progression over the years that led us to become the overall winners. We live in a world that so often demands instant gratification and immediate results, yet meaningful change takes care, consultation, time and patience which is what this kaupapa has embodied. This is not an overnight success story, it's much more of an example that hard work and dedication eventually pay off...like that old cliche - good things take time!

Finally, is there anything you’d like to share with anybody reading?

Carlee

I encourage all Rainbow students to engage with UniQ's and other Rainbow events and use the Rainbow rooms on campus, increase our visibility, make connections, and demonstrate the strength and vibrancy of our community.

Kate

Advocacy and strengthening community can take on many forms. You don't need to go out and protest or be part of rainbow club on campus if that's not how you roll. It can also look like addressing heteronormative assumptions or cisgender biases in your courses, doing research in or for rainbow communities, keeping our rainbow spaces tidy for others, having difficult conversations, helping someone access the right support, building community in online spaces or making a piece of art that speaks to your rainbow experience. You're allowed to do these things in ways that make sense to you 🙂

Kate and Carlee are half of a team of four rainbow student representatives at Massey University - working across both the University and Te Tira Ahu Pae (the University's student association). For more information, visit: tetiraahupae.ac.nz/meet-the-student-reps