We have a long history of giving back to the LGBTTQIA+ community.
On 9 November 1999, the GABA Charitable Trust was established to separate GABA’s charitable work from its regular activities as a membership and community focused organisation.
Since its founding, the Trust has donated over $500,000 to fund a broad range of LGBTTQIA+ organisations, individuals, projects and initiatives.
The Trust formally changed its name on 9 January, 2018, becoming the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust. The new name adopts the now universally understood term 'Rainbow' as reflecting the LGBTTQIA+ communities, better communicates the national purpose of the Trust, and more closely aligns the Trust’s name with Rainbow Auckland (formerly GABA) and the many other Rainbow organisations in New Zealand.
The Objectives of the Trust:
The principal objective of the Trust is to actively fundraise and attract bequests and donations in order to maintain a fund available to promote the interests of the LGBTTQIA+ community in New Zealand. The Fund is available on application to individuals and institutions for the explicit purpose of supporting the development of activities in the education, health, welfare, cultural and support services for the benefit of the LGBTTQIA+ community of New Zealand.
The Trust’s aim is to donate money where it is most needed, and where it will have the greatest impact. Recipients include larger LGBTTQIA+ organisations that provide a broad range of services to the community, through to numerous lesser known, but equally vital, organisations and projects that sustain the wider LGBTTQIA+ communities.
Trustees
Gresham Bradley (He/Him)
Co-Chair & Sponsor Relations
Gresham became a GABA/Rainbow Auckland member in 2000 and in 2001 joined the Executive where he took over the Communications role for eight years, serving with Presidents John Reinman, Richy James and Johnny Givins. He became a GABA Charitable Trust Board member in 2008, and in January 2010 was appointed to the role of Chair. In 2018, he helped lead the Trust’s transition from the GABA Charitable Trust to the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust.
In 2011, Gresham chaired the GABA-led Community Consultation process and then the Auckland Pride Festival Steering Committee which led directly to the formation of the Auckland Pride Festival Trust in 2012. He was one of the Co-Chairs of Auckland Pride through 2013 its inaugural year relaunching the Pride Festival and Parade.
Gresham is a founding Director of e-cast Ltd and General Manager of eTV, NZ’s online educational video distribution service, which has been operating since 2002. -e-cast delivers live and on demand video streaming, hosting and media management platforms and services to a range of business, government clients.
New Zealand born, Gresham lived in Vancouver, Canada for many years where he obtained a BA Communications at Simon Fraser University leading to a career in educational television at the Knowledge Network, before returning to NZ in 1996. In 2002, he produced the award winning series Captain’s Log for TVOne.
A keen sailor and gardener, he lives with his husband, Steve Rogers, in Northcote, Auckland.
Karen Knight (She/Her) Co-Chair & Donor Relations
Karen has owned a number of successful businesses and has an MBA from Auckland University. She has a background in the automotive industry and currently heads a vehicle fleet services company that provides 24/7 incident response and fleet risk management solutions , Crash Management.
Karen and her long-term partner, Nicky, have been Rainbow Auckland (previously Gay Auckland Business Assoc – GABA) members for over 25 years. Karen has served a number of terms on the Executive covering the Presidencies of Brett Shephard, David Grove, Judith Thompson and Johnny Givins. One of her main achievements during that time was to significantly increase female membership and develop a regular programme of women-only events.
Karen has been a Trust board member since the mid 2000's, and an enthusiastic supporter of the annual fund-raising Gala dinner/auction event including donations from her own art collection. She is well connected in the business sector and has been effective at securing auction donations from the travel, corporate and auto sectors for big-ticket auction items. Karen was also involved in the early consultation and planning work led by Gresham Bradly and ex-MP Nikki Kaye that resulted in the launch of the original Auckland Pride Parade.
Wayne Lockwood (He/Him) Treasurer
Wayne is a qualified accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Auckland University and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. He recently retired after 15 years as Chief Financial Officer of Avanti Finance Limited. Wayne is Auckland born and bred, living in Orakei with his partner.
Wayne has been a member of Rainbow Auckland since 2000. He was elected on to the GABA Charitable Trust as Secretary/Treasurer in 2003 and has held the position ever since.
He has been involved with a number of LGBTQI+ organizations over the past 20 years, including time as the Treasurer of Auckland Community AIDS Services Trust (ACAS) and providing honorary audit services to a number of groups in the community.
Steven Oates (He/Him) Events Manager
Steven became well known to the Rainbow communities throughout NZ with various television and radio roles over the past 20 plus years, starting with his own Radio Show at 95bFM while studying at The University of Auckland in the late 1990’s. Steven then went on to be a reporter for award winning TV show Queen Nation, this opened the door to many other roles within New Zealand Television and Radio. He is also an accomplished MC, Steven has MC’d numerous events, such as The Big Gay Out, Wellington's Out in the Square and the Auckland Pride Parade Glam Stand.
Steven has been involved in many queer organisations in various capacities. He was the Co-Chair of RainbowYOUTH, was involved with University of Auckland Queer’s on Campus and has facilitated many LGBTQI+ panels and discussion groups. After becoming acquainted with Rainbow NZ Charitable Trust – as a recipient of our community grants over several years of creating queer events in Auckland – and having seen the value in the work the Trust does, Steven took up the position of Trustee in late 2019.
Steven grew up in Taupo, has lived in Spain and China and is the proud parent of Ruby and Murphy, both from the SPCA. Steven says he is equally as passionate about animals as he is about LGBTQI+ issues and the health and wellbeing of all members of our community.
Jessie Lewthwaite (She/Her)
IT & Communications
Jessie is the Rainbow Inclusion Manager at Auckland University of Technology. She is highly skilled in public speaking, widely involved in advocacy for Rainbow groups, and is a seasoned conference presenter in her professional role. Jessie is currently leading the only dedicated Rainbow Support team at any university in New Zealand. Jessie also works to support AUTs Rainbow Tick, is a member of AUTs Diversity Caucus and has recently joined AUTs Respect in Action committee.
Jessie was a high school teacher of English and Sociology based in Australia in her early career, and has worked in the education sector for over 10 years. Jessie is currently studying towards a Masters in Human Rights at AUT. In her spare time Jessie is a talented creative writer, and was published recently in the queer magazine Express. She also enjoys computer gaming and table top gaming and has captained the Auckland Representative team at a national event. Jessie has also been known to cosplay some of her favourite comic book characters, and presents extremely well in full Xena costume!
Gurv Singh (He/Him)
Secretary & Community Grants Manager
Gurv is an experienced professional and has worked in both local and central government, his current role is Senior Development Planner at Kainga Ora Homes & Communities (formerly Housing NZ). He has led projects and provided technical planning expertise on a number of high-level initiatives including the Auckland Unitary Plan. Gurv has a Bachelor of Planning degree from the University of Auckland, is a member of the NZ Planning Institute, and has had involvement in Environment Court proceedings.
Gurv is Indian descent, born in Singapore and has lived in New Zealand for most of his life, currently on Auckland’s North Shore with his husband Tony. Gurv is well-known in the LGBT+ community and has held significant roles in both Rainbow Pride Auckland parade and the Trust’s sister-organisation Rainbow Auckland. In his spare time Gurv enjoys fitness including running, cycling & spin-class, socialising with friends and family, and a good glass of wine.
Steven Mason (He/Him)
Tertiary Scholarship Manager
Steven was originally born in the UK and has now lived in New Zealand for over 3 years, currently living in Freeman's Bay with his ginger cat Clare. Steve has previously lived in Brussels, France, Sydney and London before settling in Auckland. In his spare time Steve enjoys fitness, including badminton, travelling and exploring Aotearoa, as well as supporting the New Zealand wine industry. Steve is a passionate advocate of LGBTQI+ issues both within and outside of government, having stood on several committees and volunteering at numerous events.
Steve is an experienced central government professional, currently working as a senior policy maker in the Ministry for the Environment - Manatū Mō Te Taiao. He has over 20 years of government experience, ranging from international negotiations at both a United Nations and European Union level, through to trade and investment promotion, strategy development and Covid recovery initiatives. Steve has a Bachelor of Arts degree in European Studies from the University of Hull
Dean Campbell (He/Him)
Dean has a background in sales and governance. He likes to contribute to the community outside of his day job by being part of the Rainbow Auckland Executive and the Rainbow NZ Charitable Trust.
He originally joined the Trust as an advisor from Rainbow Auckland, however has shifted to a full Trustee role since the Rainbow New Zealand re-brand.