Designing Spaces for Connection, Reflections from the Rainbow Auckland May Networking Event

This week I went along to the Rainbow Auckland May networking event—my first time. It was a relaxed and welcoming space, with plenty of meaningful conversations beyond the usual work chat.

One of the standouts for me was hearing about Te Whare Aniwaniwa, Rainbow Hub Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, a project still in its early stages, working toward creating a dedicated rainbow community space in the CBD. It sparked some interesting conversations about what it takes to create spaces that are not just safe, but welcoming, adaptable, and truly community-owned.

As someone who works at the intersection of design, resilience, and community-building, it really hit home how these projects go beyond bricks and mortar. They’re about designing for connection, wellbeing, and belonging—things that underpin both individual and community resilience.

It reminded me why I’m drawn to spaces like this, where people come together not just to network, but to imagine how we can create better, more inclusive places for everyone