Stories That Matter: Celebrating the launch of the Rainbow Archive Project

Gather with us to mark the launch of the Rainbow Archive Project, a new partnership between Puke Ariki and Pride Taranaki dedicated to recording, preserving, and caring for the histories of our local rainbow communities. 

The evening will feature a keynote address from Chris Brickell, whose research offers critical insight into the lived realities of queer history in Aotearoa. Between 1917 and 1952, New Plymouth Prison operated as the country’s designated institution for men convicted under so-called “homosexual offences” laws. Drawing on his extensive historical research, Professor Brickell will speak to the lives of the men imprisoned there, the impacts of incarceration, and the lasting social consequences of criminalisation. 

This event also marks an important moment in the life of the Rainbow Archive Project, as it begins a long-term commitment to ensuring these stories are held with dignity and care. The evening invites reflection and why archiving these stories matters now. 
 
Bio 
Chris Brickell is Professor of Gender Studies at the University of Otago. His research explores the intersections of sexuality, gender, identity, and space, drawing on sociological, historical, and geographical methods. He is the author of several influential works, including Mates and Lovers and The Robert Lord Diaries, and is widely recognised for his contributions to queer history in Aotearoa New Zealand.