Celebrating 20 years of Pride

• Published date: 24 August 2023
• Publication title: Mountain Scene

WITH backgrounds in HR and teaching, respectively, Martin King and Mike Hughes took a leap into the unknown six years ago

The Auckland-based couple were, at the time, living in Queenstown with their son, Xavier, now 16, but long before that had made an annual trip to the resort for what was then Gay Ski Week QT, run by Mandy and Sally Whitewoods.

‘‘It was our favourite week of our year,’’ King says.

‘‘We always looked forward to it and loved it and then in [2017] we were living there.

‘‘So, instead of just going to it, we ... volunteered and kind of just got more involved.’’

When Mandy and Sally decided they’d had enough of organising Queenstown’s Pride celebration, they approached King and Hughes to see if they’d be willing to take it over — and the couple, who’ve just celebrated 28 years of marriage, decided to go for it.

In doing so, they’ve enabled the event to reach its 20th anniversary — no mean feat, considering the headwinds it’s faced over the past two decades.

Established originally by Mike Sanford as Gay Ski Week in 2003, he pulled the...