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Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling

Beyond the Rainbow CeilingBeyond the Rainbow CeilingBeyond the Rainbow Ceiling

 Exploring barriers and pathways for Rainbow career advancement in Aotearoa workplaces.

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What is Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling?

Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling is a national research project that examines the career experiences of LGBTQIA+, Takatāpui, and MVPFAFF+ people in workplaces across Aotearoa. It identifies systemic barriers to inclusion and proposes a practical framework for change. 


The free report calls for action across every level of employment. From creating safety and belonging to building leadership and representation, it sets out what workplaces need to do for Rainbow people to thrive. 

Key Findings

  • Rainbow staff are underrepresented in leadership roles across most sectors. 
  • Many workplaces rely on symbolic inclusion without addressing systemic barriers.
  • Cultural safety, data ethics, and leadership accountability are essential for real progress.
  • Pay inequities, discrimination, and burnout remain common across Rainbow groups.
  • Progress is strongest where inclusion is co-designed with communities.

The Report

Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling brings together data and lived experience from across Aotearoa. It explores how bias, invisibility, and structural barriers limit Rainbow career progression, and how organisations can remove them.  


You can read the full report online below or download it as a PDF for sharing and offline reading. 


Download the full report

Inclusion doesn’t stop at safety, it must create space for growth, leadership, and influence.

Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling

Find a partner to help you dismantle the Rainbow Ceiling

Tap In

Pride Pledge

Pride Pledge

Tap In is the home of Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling and a trusted partner for organisations ready to dismantle the Rainbow Ceiling in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Grounded in the Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling framework, Tap In moves workplaces beyond performative inclusion toward systemic, measurable change. Their expertise in strategy, education and facilitation bring a strong history of advancing rainbow inclusion and human rights across a variety of sectors. They partner with leaders and teams to embed inclusion into systems, culture and everyday practice. 


If you want LGBTQIA+, Takatāpui and MVPFAFF+ people in your organisation to feel safe, seen and supported to thrive into leadership, Tap In will guide you from intent to impact.

Find out more about Tap In

Pride Pledge

Pride Pledge

Pride Pledge

Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling has provided us with an invaluable new tool to to support our Pride Pledge clients navigate their Rainbow DEI journeys backed by evidence and clear recommendations. Having research that is grounded in New Zealand enables us to take a step closer to understanding some of the unique challenges of Intersectional Rainbow Communities in our workplaces and how these may be distinct and unique from overseas experiences.


Client feedback about Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling has been overwhelmingly positive, in particular the practical nature of the recommendations which they can implement often with little cost and resource.

Find out more about Pride Pledge

Connect and learn

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Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

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Follow our TikTok account Rainbow Aotearoa for stories, insights, and practical actions on Rainbow inclusion. 

TikTok @RainbowAotearoa

Follow us on YouTube

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

Follow us on YouTube

Follow our YouTube account Rainbow Aotearoa for stories, insights, and practical actions on Rainbow inclusion. 

YouTube @RainbowAotearoa

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

Try Rainbow Inclusion Aotearoa, a ChatGPT agent designed to help you build inclusive practices.

ChatGPT Rainbow Inclusion Advisor

About

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About the author

About the author

About the author

Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling was written by Max Wallace, a workplace culture and diversity, equity and inclusion specialist based in Tāmaki Makarau,  Aotearoa.

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Who is this for?

About the author

About the author

 Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling is intended for employers, HR leaders, policymakers, and community advocates who want to make measurable progress for Rainbow people at work.

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Acknowledgements

About the author

Acknowledgements

 Ngā mihi nui, thank you to all of the research participants, advisors, and community organisations who shared their stories and expertise as we strive to reach beyond the rainbow ceiling in Aotearoa workplaces.

Contact

To learn more about Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling or to discuss collaboration, please get in touch.

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