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Story: Men and women in the city

Gay spaces

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Gay spaces

Before 1986, homosexual sex was a criminal offence in New Zealand. Even so, there were some city venues where gay men openly met and socialised. Decriminalisation of homosexuality led to a flowering of gay culture, particularly in Auckland and Wellington. Here a gay couple enjoy a drink at Alfie’s Cabaret, a Wellington gay nightspot, in 1989.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1989/1514/20A-F

by Phil Reid

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Caroline Daley, Men and women in the city – Men’s and inclusive spaces, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/24607/gay-spaces (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Caroline Daley, published 17 December 2009.