FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2011
Hollaback! launches for the first time in Aotearoa New Zealand
Hollaback! Wellington is officially launching on the 10th August 2011, followed by a launch party at Happy Bar on the
13th of August 2011. Brought to you in conjunction with the Wellington Young Feminists' Collective, Hollaback! is an
international movement to end street harassment through web and mobile technology. The website and mobile application
allow users to record instances of street harassment on a map of Wellingon, acting as both a map of harassment
"hotspots" and a way to break the silence around street harassment. Wellington is one of 37 cities and 14 countries
globally to introduce Hollaback!
To celebrate the launch, a gig featuring 8 piece female folk pop band the Sisters of St Rupertsberg, soul singer Moana
Ete and electro folk act porcelaintoy will be held at Happy Bar, corner of Vivian and Tory Streets. Door charge is $10
and proceeds will go towards funding the development of Hollaback!
“Street harassment is one of the most common forms of violence toward women and LGBT folk, and Hollaback! allows for
their stories and experiences to be shared in a safe and constructive way so that we can raise awareness and start
making our streets safer,” said co-organiser Josephine Hall.
“The idea of bringing Hollaback! to Wellington was formed by the Wellington Young Feminists' Collective, an active
online community of over 800 people who also run events and fundraisers for feminism in Wellington,” added Hall.
“This is the first Hollaback! branch in New Zealand,” said co-organiser Nicole Skews, “we hope it will prove to be as
successful as The Wellington Young Feminists’ Collective has been.”
Hollaback! (ihollaback.org) is a global movement dedicated to ending street harassment using mobile technology. Launched in 2005 as a New York
City blog, Hollaback! has expanded and now has iPhone and Droid apps that give victims a real-time response to street
harassment, breaking the silence that has perpetuated street harassment internationally, and created a crowd-sourced
initiative to end street harassment. Street harassment is one of the most pervasive forms of gender-based violence and
one of the least legislated against.
More information can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/hollabacklaunch
ENDS