Kia ora e te whānau, and welcome back for 2026! ⭐ 

We hope you are enjoying Wellington's Pride Festival. It was lovely to see some of you at the Pride Parade on the weekend.

Here's what's in our newsletter:

🌈 Rainbow Students’ Welcome
ℹ️ Connect with a Rainbow Support Navigator
      🎉 Join us at the Pride Picnic!
      ✔️ Updating your name, gender, or pronouns
🔔 Social and peer support
      🐾 The Bubble Programmes
      👥 Friday Space—UniQ Te Herenga Waka
🧪 Burnett Foundation HIV and STI testing
🖥️ Get support with Read&Write inclusive software
💛 Wellbeing Kete Module—Developing strong, supportive friendships
✅ Staying safe in the city
📢 Student Column—Call for submissions

Stay connected:

🌏 Check out the Rainbow Hub for useful information www.wgtn.ac.nz/rainbow

📷 Follow us on Instagram @vuwequitywellbeing and Facebook.

❓ Questions or Queeries? Email rainbow@vuw.ac.nz

Rainbow Students’ Welcome

🎉 A big thank you to everyone who came along to our Rainbow Students' Welcome during New Students' Orientation.  

It was amazing to connect with so many of you as new queer and takatāpui students joining our community this year. You belong at Te Herenga Waka, and we’re here to support you to succeed and flourish.

Our gratitude to the staff and student leaders who teamed up with us to make this event happen. They are also part of your community here. Ngā mihi nui to UniQ, Rainbow Law, Disabled Students Association, VUWSA, Rainbow Research Network, Student Ambassadors, Mauri Ora—Health and Counselling, and Manawa Ora—Student Wellbeing.

Connect with a Rainbow Support Navigator

Introducing Etta Bollinger (they/them) and Josh Robinson (he/him), our Kaiwhakatere Tautoko Kahukura—Rainbow Support Navigators.

They’re here to offer advice and support to queer and takatāpui students while at University—things they can help with include:

• Working towards your goals and achieving them
• Wellbeing and life
• Guidance on gender and sexuality
• Legally updating your name or sex marke
• Connecting you with support services at the University and in the community

Connect for a korero either in person at the office RS111, or online.

Join us at the Pride Picnic! 

Join our Rainbow Support Navigators for a Te Herenga Waka get together at the Pride Picnic. This is a relaxed event for the whole community and allies. We will be wearing our University t-shirts.

Sunday 22 March 
12 pm–3pm
Wellington Botanic Gardens Sound Shell
Connect, relax, sausage sizzle, music, entertainment

🔎 Updating your name, gender, or pronouns

Learn how to update your preferred name and pronouns on our University systems, including your student email, and how we can support you with legally changing your name or gender.

Social and peer support

Burnett Foundation HIV and STI Testing 

Kahukura—Rainbow and Inclusion is collaborating with the Burnett Foundation to offer free HIV and STI testing. Testing is discreet, private, body positive, and accessible to all genders. We encourage you to make use of this service.

Testing will be available 10 am–1 pm, 11 March in SU205, Kelburn campus.

Can’t make it? Order a discreet at-home testing kit or book an in-person appointment at their Wellington Āwhina Centre. If you're a domestic student, you can also book a nurse appointment at Mauri Ora—Student Health and Counselling

Get support with Read&Write inclusive software

Wellbeing Kete Module—Developing strong, supportive friendships

The Wellbeing Kete brings together practical wellbeing skills to support you during your studies and beyond. Starting the trimester is a great time to focus on connection. The Developing strong, supportive friendships module supports you to build confidence in your relationships—whether you’re meeting new people or strengthening existing connections.

Check out the Wellbeing Kete and follow Student Equity and Wellbeing on Instagram or Facebook for Wellbeing Kete quick tips.

Staying safe in the city 

Wellington’s an awesome place to explore, especially as campus life gets busy again. Like any big city, things can happen—so it’s worth looking out for yourself and your friends when you’re out and about. 

Here are a few simple ways to stay safe: 

• Stick with your mates and check in on each other throughout the night—he waka eke noa (we are all in this waka together).
• Have a plan for getting home, and keep your phone charged. 
• Trust your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right, get to a public place or ask someone for help. 
• If you need a breather in town at night, Take 10 on Courtenay Place is a safe zone where you can grab water, charge your phone, or kōrero with trained volunteers. 

If something harmful has happened to you, or you’re worried about someone else, Student Interest and Conflict Resolution is here to manaaki and support you. 
Find more tips and support options on our Safety and Security page. 

Student Column—Call for submissions

Do you have a helpful study tip, a way to look after your wellbeing, or a story that might lift someone’s spirits? We want to hear from you!

Send us a short submission for our student column with your practical advice or positive perspective. It could be about:

• how you manage your workload
• what helps you stay connected
• something that made your day better

Submissions should be:

• uplifting, encouraging, or empowering
• focused on study, wellbeing, or campus life
• submitted as a Word document
• 250 words or less

We’ll feature selected tips in our newsletter to support and inspire others.

📧 Send your tips to: rainbow@vuw.ac.nz
🗓️ You can submit anytime!
📝 Please note: submissions may be edited for clarity or length.