From GayNZ.com, here is their report on opening ceremony:
Equality, fair play and embracing differences were the themes highlighted by the Governor General when he formally opened the 2nd Asia Pacific Out Games this evening.
Speaking on the Te Papa marae [a marae is a Maori structure for religious and social gathering of the community; Te Papa, the NZ national museum, houses a special marae, which welcomed those celebrating opening ceremony, which was full to overflowing with New Zealand and overseas participants for the eight day festival of glbt sport, culture and human rights, Sir Anand Satyanand spoke of New Zealand's proud history of social justice.
He listed our being the first country in the world to ensure that women had equal voting rights with men and our charter membership of the United Nations as milestones towards the legal freedom from discrimination that glbt kiwis enjoy. And he praised the peaceful way in which such progress had been achieved, singling out the Topp Twins as examples of people who had chosen to be open and honest about their sexuality and were taken into the hearts of New Zealanders.
Kapiti Coast's lesbian mayor followed with a gently barbed comment regarding the continuing unavailability of marriage to glbt couples.
Local politicians at the function included the gay MP for Wellington Central, Grant Robertson and international dignitaries ioncluded David Huebner, the gay American ambassador.
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade Brown said her city and New Zealand as a whole were moving "beyond tollerance and towards treasuring" our differences.
The powhiri and opening ceremony followed a procession to Te Papa from the Civic Square which was today host to the annual Out In The Square fair and entertainment event.
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