The Wanganui Chronicle masthead has turned rainbow today to celebrate parent company NZME becoming the first Kiwi media company to be awarded the Rainbow Tick, acknowledging its effort to be a diverse, innovative and inclusive organisation.
NZMEs other mastheads and brands - including the New Zealand Herald, Newstalk ZB, theNorthern Advocate, Bay of Plenty Times, Daily Post, Hawkes Bay Today, ZM, The Hits, Coast, Mix, Hauraki, Hokonui, Flava and GrabOne - are also turning rainbow coloured.
The tick is awarded to organisations that make their workplace a safe environment for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Rainbow groups encompass people in the LGBTI+ community who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, takatpui and intersex.
The certification is a result of NZMEs wider diversity strategy, which encompasses all aspects of having a multicultural workforce.
To receive the validation, an evaluation was held across five key areas that involved significant work to ensure that the company paid more than lip service to diversity.
NZME chief executive Michael Boggs says the company is proud to be certified with the Rainbow Tick. NZME sets itself apart by having talented people who can make a difference for our audience and our customers. Diversity and inclusion is key to attracting and engaging the best talent and we work very hard to make sure that everyone not only feels safe, but looks forward to coming to work.
Michael Stevens, programme director at the Rainbow Tick, said: NZME has made a public statement and commitment around what is expected in terms of professional behaviour and inclusive practice in its workforce, and we applaud this.
