Meet the Sponsors of the New Zealand LGBTI Awards who are Supporting Tolerance and Equality
Tuesday 14 August 2018, 9:48AM
By Media PA
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By Ciaran Warner
The first New Zealand LGBTI Awards are rapidly approaching, backed by several New Zealand organisations who support the message of love and support within the LGBTI community that the Awards are hoping to honour and spread.
“We believe our community is a powerful economic force, and expressing our power and being heard and seen as such is vital to the place of LGBTI people in politics, in sport, at work and in wider society,” says Silke Bader, Director and MD of the LGBTI Awards.
The Supporting Partners for the New Zealand LGBTI Awards are the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) and the Cordis Hotel in Auckland, where the awards ceremony will take place on Thursday November 29th. Welcome drinks and the Red Carpet will start at 6pm, and the Awards Dinner will go from from 7:30pm to 10:30pm.
The Music Artist of the Year Award, which includes high-profile nominees such as Kiwi singer/songwriter Annika Moa and “five-foot-two Janis Joplin” singer and activist Hilary King, will be sponsored by IT and electronics company Ricoh New Zealand.
“We really believe in supporting diversity and inclusion, hence our desire to support the LGBTI Awards. It's important we continue to advance as individuals, as businesses and as a nation when it comes to equality,” says Nick Collings, Marketing Product Manager at Ricoh New Zealand.
“These awards draw positive attention to those LGBTI people and the ally community who act as voices and role models for this change. We believe that deserves support, gratitude and celebration.”
Nick says that no known human civilisation has ever lived without music.
“It is the language that unites us all; regardless of creed, colour or culture. Through music, creativity and innovation—two concepts that drive Ricoh forward—can flourish. This award recognises that these elemental human conditions can come from all walks of life. We believe all the nominees embody that spirit.”
The Community Initiative/Charity Award, which Silke says is for “a charity or community initiative that has changed or continues to change the lives of LGBTI people,” will be sponsored by Countdown, which has supported Pride Parades in New Zealand and introduced a policy to support gender-transitioning team members. Countdown itself has been nominated for the Brand/Campaign Award.
The LGBTI Employee Network of the Year Award, which looks for established groups that are active, innovative and supportive of their LGBTI staff, and can show a proven track record for implementing inclusions, are sponsored by internet provider Chorus.
The Hero Award will be sponsored by online buy-and-sell company Amazon. This category is to recognise members of the LGBTI+ community who have never stopped fighting for equality & inclusivity, and includes people such as Rhona Stace, transgender Senior Prosecutor for the New Zealand Police, and Nevin Godvinasamy, a South African-born Kiwi filmmaker.
The Organisation of the Year Award, which celebrates brands that have successfully promoted inclusivity and support for the LGBTI community, is sponsored by Accor Hotels.
The Sports Personality of the Year Award is sponsored by New Zealand energy company Meridian Energy. “This category is for our sport idols who are either breaking barriers as LGBTI athletes or athletes that actively support & promote the LGBTI community,” says Silke.
Other categories include the Destination of the Year Award, which is sponsored by New Zealand travel agency Flight Centre and has nominated places such as Miami, Ireland and Auckland, and the Local Icon Award, which has nominated Kiwi music star Lorde and Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless, who is also Ambassador to the LGBTI Awards.
To vote, or find out more about the New Zealand LGBTI Awards and their sponsors, visit them here!
Contact New Zealand LGBTI Awards:
Email: silke@newzealandlgbtiawards.co.nz
Phone: +61 2 8097 0054
Website: http://www.newzealandlgbtiawards.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lgbtiNZ
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lgbti_nz
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.nz/newzealandlgbtiawards/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/112187441818861674708
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSbpixysMQ3czoelIgzixGQ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-zealand-lgbti-awards/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzlgbtiawards/
Contact MediaPA:
Phone: 0274 587 724
Email: phillip@mediapa.co.nz
Website: www.mediapa.co.nz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MediaPA
Twitter: twitter.com/NZ_MediaPA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TheMediaPA
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/NZMediaPA