The day before Winter Pride festival kicked off, organisers were notified of a “disheartening” incident with around 29 of their flags, worth $12,000, stolen.
The annual Winter Pride festival is an 11-day event that kicked off in Queenstown on Thursday, where the rainbow community and allies come together to celebrate love, community, safety and inclusion.
The flags were displayed across Queenstown Bay and Village Green, and director Odette Rose says the person who put up the flags noticed they went missing on Wednesday.
(Photo: Supplied)
She says they were shocked because the flags were installed on 7-metre-high street lamp posts and the local council even required a cherry picker to install it.
She says it would have been physically impossible to get up there.
“We don't know if they went with a car and a ladder, we don't know if they climbed and tried to pull them down.”
She says those flags are symbols of inclusion and visibility, especially for those visiting from out of town.
“When people are coming into town and see a rainbow somewhere, they know they are welcome here, you are safe here, you can be who you are,” she added.
“Having that visibility taken down is really saddening.”
In a statement, Queenstown Police say they received a report about this on Wednesday, and are investigating the matter.
Sergeant Steve Watt says the theft is disappointing.
“While we can’t know the motive for removing these flags until we have identified those responsible, we know how frustrating it is for the organisers of this vibrant festival that injects a real boost to our city.
“We’re keen to hear from anyone who might have information about this theft, or who knows who is responsible.”
Directors Odette Rose (she/her) on the left and Sam Coulthard (he/him) on the right. (Photo: Supplied)
Despite the hurdle, Odette is firm that the festival is going ahead as planned and says this won’t stop them from celebrating and having a fantastic time.
“We’re going to be just as loud and proud, and happy to be here.”
She says they also received overwhelming support, including from dozens of local businesses, who offered to help by contributing financially or in getting new flags made in time.
With Queenstown being such a small town, she says they’re unsure whether the new flags can be made in time because there’s only one business that makes them.
She says people can support in other ways by putting up rainbow flags or other visibility symbols at their stores, shops, homes or on vehicles, to let visitors and the wider community know that Queenstown is a place of acceptance and respect for all.
Odette adds they have also started a Give a Little campaign for those who want to help them replace the flags.
For those feeling a little unsafe or down from what happened, she says the strength of the community lies in their ability to come together in times like this.
She says people will see so much support in town, adding that the airport has massive welcome signs, many businesses have their rainbows up, and people “are wearing rainbows”.
“This is just a very small minority of people that do silly things like this. It’s unfortunate a very small amount of loud voices are trying to take over [the] narrative.”
“But there is more love than there is hate.”