SkyCity receives Pride Pledge certification
SkyCity’s inclusive, rainbow-supporting workplace has been officially recognised by the award of Pride Pledge certification, and the company is urging other corporates to follow suit.
The Pride Pledge certification recognises an ongoing commitment to create a more inclusive, welcoming and supportive workplace for all employees.
SkyCity Chief Executive Officer, Jason Walbridge said: “We have big ambitions for SkyCity and want the best people to come to work with us – you can’t do that unless you make everyone feel welcome, supported and able to be themselves.
SkyCity Chief People and Culture Officer Shaun Philp said: “We believe that everyone deserves to feel comfortable, respected, and valued at work, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation,” said Philp. “The Pride Pledge certification is a meaningful recognition of the progress we've made, but it’s also a reminder that there is still much more to do.”
Attaining certification is a way for organisations to be accredited as workplaces which are inclusive of LGBTTQIAP+ (Rainbow) people, and which are actively engaged in an ongoing journey of improvement in practice.
SkyCity began the process in December 2024 by signing up to Pride Pledge and undertaking a stocktake of existing policies and practices and undergoing additional training led by the Pride Pledge team.
Pride Pledge Director, Martin King said: “We are thrilled that SkyCity is the first to achieve this new standard for Rainbow Diversity, Equity and Inclusion certification. Their commitments are authentic and genuine with deep employee engagement at heart.”
SkyCity’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager, Karina Nathan, said “We were challenged at every step to move beyond token gestures and really embed inclusion into the way we work. The certification process pushed us to examine ourselves honestly and act with purpose - and we’re better for it. As a large organisation, it means a lot to know we’re staying true to our values. We’re proud to stand visibly alongside our Rainbow communities and celebrate together.”
“At SkyCity, we’re dedicated to creating an environment where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work, and while this certification is a milestone in our continuous journey, it’s not the end. We must keep learning, growing, and striving to do better every day.”
To celebrate the achievement, the Sky Tower will light up in Rainbow colours tonight.
In addition, SkyCity will host the 2025 New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards at the SkyCity Theatre, 24 October.
“We’re delighted that we will celebrate achievements of Rainbow communities across Aotearoa on our home soil,” said Philp.
