Jacinda Ardern has become the first prime minister to walk in the Auckland Pride Parade.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Lexie Matheson, Co-Chair of the Auckland Pride Festival board, cut a purple ribbon to kick off the Auckland Pride Parade.
Stella Callisto & Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Kyle Sampson rocking the rainbow at tonight's Auckland Pride Parade.
Terry Moore out with GALS in tonight's Pride Parade
Kimberley Loeffen, Kay Kirkland & Maddie O’Mara marched with Unitec (and yes Maddie's rainbow mohawk is her real hair, not a wig!)
John Tavae, Mac Teamo, Tetua Singh & Mami Wakino on the Zumba float.
Hannah Edwards and her two sons marched with Auckland Rainbow Families
Gabriel Clifton and his motorcylce turned spaceship with the Bears.
The Body Positive, Postive Women & Cartier Trust float
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with Piper Shields, Phoebe Newcombe & Audrey Reid (from left to right).
Annie Crummer and Nikki Kaye
A member of the Deaf Rainbow LGBT group signs with the crowd.
Jacinda Ardern is the first Prime Minister to ever march in the parade according to event organisers.
Ponsonby Rd was lined with people from end to end!
Cass Power (center) got her cast signed by Jacinda Ardern (who used her lipstick!). She participated in the parade with friends Amy Blinkhorne (left) and Eliana Rubashkyn (right) as part of Jewish Rainbw Aotearoa.
It's not a Pride Parade without seeing Miss Ribena!
The atmosphere on Ponsonby Rd was buzzing. Rainbow flags and smiles could be seen the entire length of the parade route.
Ciara Smith & Chris Hedge at their very first Pride Parade. Both Ciara's mothers are in the Auckland Museum's float in tonights parade.
Members of the Deaf Rainbow LGBT group take a mid-parade selfie.
Katie Osborne, Rakai Tichborne & Elizabeth Humberstone road tripped up from Hamilton just for the parade.
Helen Brierley (left) brings her daugher Jordan (right) to Auckland's Pride Parade every year.
The Westpac float sported a huge balloon rainbow and pumped out some live music from drummers as they marched.
Victoria and Sinéad Envy are the first couple to get married during a pride parade in the Southern Hemisphere. Congrats guys!
Marama Davidson rocking a rainbow umbrella
Shannon White (center) has previously participated in every Pride Parade since its been going in Auckland. This year she takes the night off, enjoying with friends Henare Rawiri (left) and Christine Castle (right) in the VIP area.
Julie Anne Genter rode her bike down Ponsonby Rd
Ladyhawke performed in the Pride Parade, playing tunes from Air New Zealand's float.
Kimiko De Wet & Leo Tee loved the vibe at this year's Pride Parade.
Over 70 floats, including ones made by the rainbow community, political parties, universities and businesses, supported the LGBTTQI community in Auckland last night.
This year's parade was the largest yet, with between 25,000 and 30,000 people turning out to watch the revelry.
Addressing the crowd, Ms Ardern, who has attended previous parades, said the government "walks beside" the Rainbow community.
The event was a great opportunity to celebrate diversity and connect with young people.
Significant mental health issues still existed within the young rainbow community, she said.
"Bullying, a sense that you can't be who you are in certain environments - we do still need to be worried about that."
"Those people are growing up all over New Zealand," Ms Ardern said. They needed to feel "safe" and "supported".
She said the parade sent a strong message to those groups.
Several previous prime ministers have attended the parade, however parade organisers said it was the first time a prime minister had walked in the parade.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with Piper Shields, Phoebe Newcombe & Audrey Reid (from left to right).
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Organisers have urged Ms Ardern to include gender identity as an unlawful basis for discrimination in the Human Rights Act.
The parade's producer Shaughan Woodcock said rainbow rights had come a long way in the past few decades, but the parade still remained relevant.
Issues still remained in New Zealand - especially for the trans-community's access to gender-reassignment, Mr Woodcock said.
Chief executive of RainbowYOUTH, Frances Arns, said the parade was mostly now a celebration, but had a "dual purpose" of being a platform to spread important messages.
"There are still so many issues that exist on a daily basis for our community," Ms Arns said.
Discrimination and lack of understanding continued to create barriers for the community, she said.
The pride parade - now in its sixth year - marks the final celebration for the two-week long Auckland Pride Festival, which has showcased more than 85 musical, theatre and discussion events.
