We were very excited to be joint hosts of the inaugural Parliamentary Breakfast held on World AIDS Day 2024.
The idea was initially suggested by Mark Fisher from Body Positive who shared how Australia had been doing this every year for a very long time. It is a good way to get the attention of Politicians and keep HIV front of mind.
The event was a collaboration between Body Positive, Toitū Te Ao, the Burnett Foundation and Positive Women Inc. We have been trying for several years to do the event, then COVID hit, and in 2023 there was an election and a new government. We didn’t feel it was the optimal time to have the event.
Finally it happened in 2024.
The Breakfast was held at the Beehive in Wellington. All the politicians were invited to attend as were members from all four HIV organisations who live in Wellington. Overall there were around 100 people. Matt Doocey and Ayesha Verrall were the guest speakers from Parliament. Other guest speakers included Clive Aspen and David Miller who wrote a report for the Ministry of Health in 2010 which instigated Ministry of Health funding for Body Positive, Positive Women Inc. and INA at that time. Marama also joined the special occasions as a guest speaker.
Ayesha Verrall was directly responsible for instigating the HIV Action Plan 2023-2030. To ensure the implementation of the plan an extra $18 million dollars was committed to the Plan. While that was initiated under the Labour Government, at the WAD breakfast, Matt Doocey from the National party, confirmed the budget would remain as initially allocated. Which is great news for the HIV Sector.
A very successful event which we hope will be come an annual event.
