What's on at LILAC 
Kia ora

The Annual General Meeting ... LILAC. Poetry at Book Group, and a coming out meet-up in November

Opening hours:

Wednesdays 5:30 - 7:30pm

Thursdays and Saturdays 11am - 2pm

LILAC is open again on Wednesdays so drop in on the way home from work for some fresh reading and a natter

LILAC Annual General Meeting

The twenty-sixth Annual General Meeting of LILAC will be held in the LILAC Lounge on the second floor of 187 Willis Street at 6.00pm on Tuesday, 21 November 2023. The Annual Report, Financial reports and Auditor's report are available on the LILAC website.

The minutes of the 2022 Annual General Meeting are available here (pdf, 131kb).

Nominations for members of the Collective should be in writing, moved and seconded by current financial members and have the signed acceptance of the nominee. Nominations will be accepted at the meeting. The nomination form is available in the Annual Report.

The Collective are keen to have a few younger women assist on the events subcommittee to ensure we catering to all our members.

If you wish to attend and vote at the AGM but are unsure if your membership is up to date, check your membership card - email lilac-subs@lesbian.net.nz if you cannot find it. Arrive early with cash if you need to pay! Or pay by online banking at least 24 hours before the meeting - see the renewal form, or the renewal information at the bottom of this email, for instructions; please send an email to let us know you have paid. 

Light refreshments will be available from 5:30pm.

Lesbian Coming Out Meet-up Saturday 4th November 2-4pm

This is an event at LILAC for women who have recently come out, or are thinking about coming out as lesbian to meet in a relaxed and supportive social environment. Lesbians new to town also welcome. Pass it on - let your friends know!

Lesbian Herstory Walk Saturday 29th October

Hilary O led a keen group of lesbians around the streets and lanes of Te Aro on a sunny Saturday afternoon. We visited the sites of lesbian haunts in the 1970s 1980s 1990s. And lesbians were everywhere back then! The event finished at the LILAC Lounge for refreshments and more reminiscing.

There are some copies of the walk brochure at LILAC and we will have the pdf file accessible soon.

Book Group meeting on Wednesday 8th November 6  - 7:30pm

It's poetry month for Book Group - and we have a good selection at LILAC, from Sappho to Joelle Taylor's award-winning C+nto. You can browse our poetry collection on tinycat.

Please come along and join in the discussion. Light refreshments and convivial company.

The current book display at the east end of the LILAC room has a selection from LILAC's poetry collection.

Art at LILAC 

Spring Art Exhibition

Local lesbian artists were approached to make an artwork inspired by a favourite lesbian book, poem, quote or song lyric, using resources from the LILAC collection if possible. Seven artists responded - each started with the same sized canvas and transformed it into a creative response to their chosen inspiration. Together, these form our Spring Art Exhibition.

Also on display are card reproductions of paintings by Wilhelmina Irving, an Indonesian-born woman of Dutch heritage who spent her adult life in New Zealand.

DIY Exhibitions at LILAC

A shout out to any lesbian artists wanting to hold an exhibition at LILAC in 2024 - you're welcome to get in touch. Email lilac@lesbian.net.nz

New books arriving 8th November for Book Group

Untouchable girls : the Topp Twins story, by Jools and Lynda Topp

The rollicking, intimate, uproarious memoir of Jools and Lynda Topp ... RNZ review


Girls like girls, by Hayley Kiyoko

A coming-of-age romance based on the author's breakthrough hit song and viral video, GIRLS LIKE GIRLS ... more on goodreads. The inspiration for one of the paintings in the Spring Art Exhibition.
LILAC gratefully acknowledges the invaluable financial support we receive from the Armstrong and Arthur Charitable Trust for Lesbians.

The A&A Trust  commemorates the support of Bette Armstrong and Bea Arthur for the lesbian community in Wellington. It is a registered charity that welcomes bequests and donations to enable it to assist lesbian communities in the Wellington region.

Need to renew? Email lilac-subs@lesbian.net.nz
  • Online banking payments should be made to LILAC 030502 0030496 00. Use your first name, membership number and "sub" as reference
  • Please email lilac-subs@lesbian.net.nz to confirm your details and alert us to your payment.
  • Cash payments may be made at LILAC, Level 2, 187 Willis Street during our opening hours. Please bring correct amount of cash
LILAC · PO Box 427 · Wellington, 6140 · New Zealand