Community Leaders Call For Libraries To Stay Safe And Inclusive

Thursday, 20 February 2025, 10:11 pm
Article: Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter

A local politician says extra security may be needed for future Pride events at Auckland's libraries.

Protesters linked to Destiny Church stormed the Te Atatū Community Centre and Library in protest of a children's event hosted by a drag king last weekend.

Dr Will Flavell, Henderson-Massey Local Board deputy chair, says he met with community leaders and residents of Te Atatū on Monday for a karakia to “boost that space where the negative issue happened”.

For future Pride events, he says security will be necessary. “I know there are Pride events happening this week, and I think that it's really important that there is security, based on what happened at Te Atatū Peninsula Library, and I'm really supportive of that. But general security, no, I don't think we have a problem with that.

“I know that this is a random incident and attack, but I want to make sure that I'm at the next event in West Auckland.”

Flavell also stressed that any group using council spaces in West Auckland must align with Auckland Council’s values, which include diversity, respect, community-mindedness, and aroha. He plans to attend the next event to provide “peace of mind” as a community leader.

Catherine Leonard, Auckland Council’s Head of Library and Learning Services, says libraries are among the few places where everyone is welcome.

“It’s a place to sit, to be safe, to get online, to read, to participate in a programme - without having to put their hand in their pocket or justify themselves,” she says.

“Libraries are about connection and identity and belonging; about participation and democracy; and about building strong and empowered communities.”

Ongoing challenges around Pride events show that marginalisation and intolerance continue to exist, she said.

“Families come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and natures. It is important that our community libraries celebrate diversity and provide a space where everyone can feel comfortable to be themselves.”

Karl Tusini-Rex, a youth worker and lead facilitator for the Adullam Boys Club at Tupu Youth Library in Ōtara, echoes Leonard's sentiment, as the boys club is a space for its members to be themselves. He believes libraries should be safe, inclusive spaces for young people.

“It’s always going to be - it should always be - a safe place for our young people to be,” he says.

“Our library should be an opportunity for everyone to go into and be safe, whether they be reading a book or attending an event.

“Like, honestly, just continuing the libraries to be a safe opportunity for our young people in communities to read, to write, to socialise in a safe environment.”

Apulu Reece Autagavaia, chair of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, says the “paramount issue is safety” for everyone attending public spaces.

He supports freedom of speech but adds, “Once it starts affecting the safety of people, in particular our young people who frequent our libraries, then that's a concern that I think crosses boundaries.”

Apulu reassures the public, saying, “I want to reassure people that our staff want to make sure that our libraries, our pools, wherever, whatever council facility it is that people may be visiting, that they are safe and that they are welcome, whatever stripe of colour they may be. It shouldn't be a place where people feel scared to be locked up in a room. And there are better ways to put across your point. We have a lot of people in our communities that are of diverse religions and of different opinions, but there's a better way of bringing about that point.”

Apulu says safety concerns extend beyond messaging - council staff routinely assess risks for all public events, not just Pride events.

“In our local board, we don’t have any Pride events, so the risk might not be great, but there have been previous occasions or events where staff have clearly said that there's a danger to, or risk of harm to, staff and members of the public, so they advised against certain things.

“So, yeah, it's part and parcel of the council's job to reassess risk at all times. So, definitely, I believe staff will be implementing what needs to be done since the attack, the Te Atatū incident.”

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

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