AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2007

May 4, 2007

AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2007

Communities hit hardest by HIV and AIDS will unite on May 20 around New Zealand for the annual AIDS Candlelight Memorials.

Despite modern treatments, HIV and AIDS remains a major health issue, particularly for gay and bisexual men who continue to remain the highest risk group for HIV infection - one diagnosis was recorded every five days in 2006, a total of 70 men.

“In both Auckland and Wellington we’re delighted that local gay youth groups have volunteered to be part of Candlelight this year,” says National Candlelight Co-ordinator Eamonn Smythe. “These young men and women are showing their commitment to both remembering an earlier generation affected by AIDS, and building strong communities to combat HIV in the years to come.”

The theme chosen for this year’s Candlelight Memorial is “lighting the path to a brighter future”, recognising that we all have a part to play - young and old, gay and straight - in working together toward a world without HIV and AIDS.

It is estimated that around 2000 New Zealanders are living with HIV today, a diverse community of varying ages, ethnicities, gender and sexual orientation.

“This diversity comes through in the differing programmes for each city’s Candlelight Memorial,” Smythe says. “Reflecting the changing face of the overall HIV-positive population in New Zealand, Candlelight has become very much a multicultural affair, with men and women from Maori, Pacific, African communities taking part, as well as gay men.”

The Candlelight Memorial is an international event, initiated in the late 1980s as a grassroots response to the HIV epidemic by communities hit hardest by a disease which, at the time, had no treatment options available.

“Community-based movements have been the best responses to the HIV epidemic, particularly in New Zealand,” Smythe says. “A collective commitment to safe sex and care for the wellbeing of peers all contributed to HIV infections in New Zealand coming down to record lows by the end of the 1990s. With this renewed commitment, we will be able to do this again.”

A list of Candlelight venues and times follow. If you wish to become involved as a volunteer please contact the organiser in your area:

AUCKLAND
Co-ordinator: Wayne Otter, Burnett Centre (09) 309 5560
Venue/Time: St Matthew's in the City, 187 Federal St, Auckland City, 6:00pm

HAMILTON
Co-ordinator: Tim Allingham, Te Puawaitanga o te Ora (07) 838 3557
Venue/Time: Houchen Retreat Centre, 83 Houchen Rd, Hamilton, 7:00pm

TAURANGA
Co-ordinator: Susan Kennedy (07) 579 8460
Venue/Time: Memorial Park, 7pm

WELLINGTON
Co-ordinator: Carl Greenwood, Awhina Centre (04) 381 6640
Venue/Time: City Gallery, Civic Square, 101 Wakefield St
6:30pm - Service, followed by
7:30pm - Reception

CHRISTCHURCH
Co-ordinator: Laura Jones, NZAF South/Te Toka (03) 379 1953
Venue/Time: Music Centre of Christchurch, 140 Barbadoes St (next to the Catholic cathedral), 7:00pm - Service with a supper to follow

DUNEDIN
Co-ordinator: Sarah Loftus, Family Planning (03) 477 5850 ext 3
Venue/Time: St Paul’s Cathedral, Octagon, 7pm

INVERCARGILL
Co-ordinator: Shona Fordyce, (03) 214 5768
Venue/Time: Bluff Hill, 6pm

ENDS

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