A new name is coming to Pukekura Park in New Plymouth: Georgina Beyer Lawn, honouring the politician and LGBTQ+ advocate whose early childhood was rooted in Taranaki. Pride Taranaki is hosting a free public celebration on 15 November 2026, bringing people together to remember Beyer’s historic achievements and mark a lasting local tribute.
Essential Takeaways
- A permanent tribute: Pukekura Park’s former Boatshed Lawn is being renamed Georgina Beyer Lawn.
- A community gathering: Pride Taranaki’s celebration is scheduled for 2pm to 5pm on Sunday 15 November 2026.
- What to expect: The event listing promises speeches from people representing different communities and refreshments afterwards.
- A personal connection: Beyer spent her earliest years in Taranaki, raised by her maternal grandparents until about five.
- Remembered for breaking barriers: She became Carterton’s mayor in 1995 and entered Parliament in 1999.
A lawn with a story to tell
A familiar stretch of grass beside Pukekura Park’s boatshed is set to carry a name with deep significance. The former Boatshed Lawn is being renamed Georgina Beyer Lawn, giving the history-making politician a permanent place in the New Plymouth landscape.
Pride Taranaki’s event listing invites the public to celebrate the change on Sunday 15 November 2026, from 2pm to 5pm. The gathering is free, but an RSVP is essential.
Why Taranaki feels like the right place
Beyer was born in Wellington in 1957, but her connection to Taranaki began early. Te Papa’s biographical account says her grandparents raised her in the region until she was about five, making this tribute more than a marker of national achievement.
In a 2016 interview with E-Tangata, Beyer spoke about her whakapapa and the family connections that shaped her. She identified her Māori heritage through Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Porou.
From Carterton to Parliament
Beyer’s political career broke new ground. New Zealand Parliament records that she was elected mayor of Carterton in 1995, becoming the first transgender person in the world elected as a mayor, and later served Wairarapa as an MP.
NZ History records that she won the Wairarapa electorate for Labour by 3,033 votes in 1999. When sworn into Parliament on 10 December that year, she became the world’s first transgender MP.
Her public work included support for the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 and the Civil Union Act 2004, according to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. In 2020, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to LGBTIQA+ rights.
What to know before you go
The celebration will take place at Pukekura Park, 10 Fillis Street, New Plymouth. Pride Taranaki says the programme will include speeches from people representing different communities, followed by refreshments.
An RSVP is essential, so check Pride Taranaki’s event listing before setting out. The occasion is designed both to remember Beyer’s achievements and to give people a chance to reconnect, a fitting way to mark a public space that will keep her name in view.
A name for future generations
Beyer died in March 2023, aged 65, leaving a legacy of political representation and advocacy. Her journey from an early childhood in Taranaki to historic elected roles made her a trailblazer whose impact reached well beyond the region.
Now, the new lawn name offers a simple, lasting prompt to share that story. Sometimes a public tribute does its best work quietly, inviting people to pause, gather and remember.
Explore Pride Taranaki’s event listing for the RSVP details.
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