Wellington Airport paints giant Pride rainbow on runway embankment

Mayor Justin Lester is delighted with the rainbow. Photo / Supplied

Wellington Airport is celebrating the upcoming Pride Festival by painting a 3000sq m rainbow along the embankment of its runway.

The airport is using the rainbow - which is the size equivalent of eight netball courts - to welcome in those arriving for the festival and the World ILGA Conference in March.

Airport chief executive Steve Sanderson said it's a unique month of LGBTQIAF+ events for Wellington.

"We're looking forward to welcoming those attending the events and being part of the celebration of diversity and inclusion around the capital.

"Wellington Airport is a sponsor of the ILGA conference and proud supporter of community events like the Wellington Pride Festival, which was a runner up in the Arts and Culture category of the Wellington Airport Community Awards for 2018."

The embankment area will be painted with special temporary turf paint which lasts about three to four weeks and will display each of the six traditional and symbolic pride colours.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester is delighted with the rainbow.

"Wellington is one of the most inclusive cities on the planet and we want to show our pride at holding the ILGA World Conference.

"Last year we painted the Rainbow Crossing on Dixon Street – it's not quite as big – to show how we embrace everyone. The airport rainbow will be the first many ILGA attendees see and I am sure it will make them feel welcome."

Co-chair of the Wellington Pride Festival Roxy Coevers said "to my knowledge it's the largest-scale painted rainbow in honour of pride in New Zealand, and the festival team is excited to have this very powerful and visual display of solidarity for LGBTQIAF+ folks during our yearly celebrations.

"We are looking forward to celebrating the festival with Wellingtonians and visitors alike, as well as the ILGA delegates and have put together the largest festival to date with over 128 events."

Painting the rainbow took around three days to complete and a time-lapse video was created to capture the painting process. The rainbow is visible from the embankment facing Cobham Drive.