Rainbow crossing for Tauranga a ‘symbol of diversity and belonging’

Tauranga getting a rainbow pedestrian crossing after a six-year campaign is a sign it is "growing up".

Tauranga's community, transparency and engagement committee approved installation of a rainbow crossing in Tauranga city centre at a meeting on Tuesday.

LGBTQIA advocate Gordy Lockhart campaigned for six years for a crossing in Tauranga and petitioned Tauranga City Council for one.

The petition with 871 signatures was presented to the council in April and the commission felt the decision should be left to the incoming council.

Lockhart was visibly emotional as the decision was made and he thanked the councillors and staff.

He was supported by a handful of people in the public gallery who applauded as the motion was passed.

The crossing will be installed at 21 Devonport Road outside He Puna Manawa, the library and council service centre.

The standard pedestrian crossing will be flanked by the progress pride flag on either side.

Speaking after the meeting Lockhart said he has asked the council for a rainbow crossing four times so getting one was fantastic.

He said the first two times were before the NZ Transport Agency changed the law allowing roadway art.

Lockhart started the petition calling for a crossing after the rainbow crossings in Gisborne and Auckland were vandalised.

The petition generated a lot of hate, and the online trolling was "disgraceful" which took a toll, he said.

Having something on the street that made everyone feel welcome was a great step to celebrating Tauranga's minorities, said the founder of the inclusivity charity You Be You.

"Tauranga just started growing up.

"If we start celebrating each other, then we'll end up in a much better place as a city [and] as a nation.

"This is the start for Tauranga we're now going to have a symbol of diversity, a symbol of belonging, a symbol of valuing everybody for who they are. I think that is just amazing."

During the meeting councillor Hautapu Baker said Tauranga means safe anchorage and he wanted to ensure the council lived up to that.

"That has inspired my vision to ensure that everybody, regardless of who they are, where they come from can anchor themselves safety in our city and feel a sense of purpose and belonging."

"This community … has only ever attempted to find a place where they belong.

"Council has a part to play ultimately in actually providing that sense of belonging and purpose and we've heard quite clearly for a number of years by this community that they don't have that."

The rainbow crossing was one small step to ensuring the LGBTQIA community could anchor safely in Tauranga and that the council recognised who they are, their challenges and celebrated them, said Baker.

Councillor Steve Morris said in these "divided times" the community needed a symbol of common humanity and dignity.

"The installation of the progress pride flag does not represent that because it is highly political.

Because the progress pride flag had become "highly political" and for many people represented gender ideology it wasn't appropriate in the public realm, said Morris.

The council should be "very agnostic" when displaying symbols that were "highly political", he said.

Morris voted against installing the crossing.

Councillor Rod Taylor acknowledged the bravery of Reihana Marx, a transgender woman who ran in the July election.

Her fortitude in putting herself into the public arena was inspiring and led to him supporting the crossing, said Taylor.

"My hope is that by promoting the LGBTQ community in an overt way we will have a city where everyone can make their contribution without fear."

The crossing will cost $10,000 to install and require the road to be closed for one night.

The council aims to have it finished by then end of the year.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.