Rotorua's only LGBT bar/nightclub has now closed, with the team behind it planning to host special events in gay-friendly venues around the North Island.
The doors at Shampers bar on Eruera Street shut for good last month, after just over a year open. "Unfortunately, with the high overheads, we were unable to sustain the location," say the bar's crew in a statement.
"However, there was still a need for something that would allow us to socialise in a safe environment with all of our friends - old and new - in the central North Island. So we've rebranded Shampers from 'a rainbow bar' to 'a rainbow experience'.
Kicking off with a party at Rotorua's Grand Hotel on Saturday 20 March, various club parties and events will meet the needs of the region's diverse community, say the Shampers crew.
"Our first events are Rotorua-based but we are hoping to visit other towns such as Tauranga and Taupo in the near future. We are also organising social clubs who will organise transport and accommodation."
