UniQ
In New Zealand, UniQ is the Queer Students Association at New Zealand Tertiary Institutions.
UniQ is active at most New Zealand universities and several polytechnics. In New Zealand, the term queer has been reclaimed - that is, it was once (and by many is still held to be) a term of severe offence - to represent all people that are non-heterosexual; gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or transsexual, asexual, fa'afafine, takatāpui.
UniQ works to promote education and understanding for and about queer students undertaking tertiary study and regular events held around New Zealand's Tertiary Institutions include Pride Week when local UniQs facilitate a week-long series of events usually culminating in a dance party.
UniQ meets once annually at a national conference. These usually include workshops, planning sessions, guest speakers (including political, religious and disabled speakers), plus dinners and a dance (or a night on the town). Recent conferences have been hosted by the following groups:
- 2001: Massey University MUSA
- 2002: University of Otago OUSA
- 2003: Auckland University of Technology AUSM
- 2004: University of Waikato WSU
- 2005: Victoria University of Wellington VUWSA
- 2006: Massey University MUSA
- 2007: University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology AUSA & AUSM
- 2008: University of Otago OUSA
- 2009: Victoria University of Wellington VUWSA
- 2010: Canterbury University UCSA
- 2011: University of Waikato Askew Waikato
See also
- LGBT New Zealand
- Gay rights in New Zealand
- UniQ national website