Abstract
This dissertation examines the multifaceted responses to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in New Zealand between 1981 and 1997, focusing on the intertwined themes of education, support, and advocacy. First, education, initially driven by the gay community and later adopted by physicians and the New Zealand Government, served as a vital preventative tool, altering the trajectory of the epidemic’s impact. Bruce Burnett was the face of the gay community educative response, as was the AIDS Support Network (later the New Zealand AIDS Foundation), and the Pink Triangle, the local gay press. Second, support was pivotal to the wellbeing of individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. The AIDS Support Network and Body Positive were key, among other organisations. Their operational nuances, funding trajectories, and inherent tensions showcase a complex landscape of support during the epidemic. Third, advocacy was central to the epidemic response, contributing to two significant legislative changes, the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986 and the Human Rights Act 1993. These pieces of legislation not only led to shifts in societal attitudes, but also increased the visibility of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Throughout, this dissertation will pay particular attention to tensions within and between organisations involved in the New Zealand response, as well as how the epidemic fit into an historical epidemic framework. Overall, this dissertation offers a comprehensive analysis of New Zealand’s dynamic approach to the unprecedented HIV and AIDS crisis, revealing resilience, adaptation, and societal transformation.