New Zealand’s largest, longest-running LGBTQIA+ dog show is back for 2026.
Hundreds of dog lovers, families, and rainbow community members are expected at Auckland’s lower Western Park on Sunday March 8th.
The Wag spoke to event organiser Steven Oates.
TW: Congratulations on the eleventh year of WOOF!, why do you think the rainbow community has such an affinity with dogs?
SO: I guess most rainbow people don’t have children and often we create our own families of shapes and sizes and often pets are a part of that. So in a way they become our children. And I know it’s the same for straight people as well, but they kind of fill that gap in our lives of having someone to love and be loved back and look after. Of course pets are absolutely non-judgmental, loving. They don’t come pre-programmed with and prejudices or preconceived ideas, they just have unconditional love. So it’s win-win.
TW: To the day itself – it’s a rainbow community event, but it’s for everyone?
SO: Yes, absolutely, it’s for everyone. We even have a children’s section, it’s called Wee Woofers, and that’s really just cute kids and cute dogs, and that’s probably the crowd favorite, it’s probably my favorite too. I’m on the mic giving the commentary, and when the kids come down, it’s absolutely adorable, and they never cease to surprise me and delight me.
And in doing that, in some ways is that it’s a subconscious PR exercise really. Kids are having an interaction with a rainbow event whether they know it or not. Lots of them probably aren’t overly aware of that and who cares nor should they be. But somewhere planting in their subconscious is going to be they’re having a positive experience with the rainbow community and I doubt that they’re going to grow up to be homophobes basically.
TW: There’s a number of categories for the competition element of the day?
SO:Â Yes, and lots of people turn up not even really knowing they just kind of look at the list and go yeah I’ll do that and that and that and that’s absolutely fine. But I guess the categories are really something that makes it a bit more rainbow and a bit more kind of cheeky that we have a bit more fun with than any regular dog show. So we have categories are best dressed, best owner look alike and we also have the most camp and the most butch. I explain on the day what that means because it’s something that a regular straight dog show would not have.
TW: What can we expect for Most Camp?
SO: So the most camp really in my books is just colorful fun, feathers, sequins, silliness. Being camp is just being silly. And the most butch is just, you know, might have a studded collar or it’s a bit, it could be a bit of a meaner looking dog or, but then it all twists around, you know, people will enter both and that’s part of the fun for me on the microphone. I’m like, you know, suddenly the sequins have become…you know, a leather waistcoat or something and it’s, you know, it’s hilarity and I have a lot of fun with it.
But it’s those little, it’s just those little twists that I think give it our unique flavor from our community that just make it silly, you know, it’s just about, it’s nothing as serious. It’s just absolute ridiculousness. And that’s the order of the day.
TW: And you’ve got some pretty impressive celebrity judges again this year?
SO: We always have Buckwheat, one of our most well-regarded drag queens. She is the top of the pyramid, so to speak, and we’re very lucky to have her. She’s incredible. We have Tom Sainsbury. He’s a very regular judge with us, Justine Smith, the comedian.
Ben Barrington from Shortland Street is back, and Louisa Wall who was a well-known MP for Labour. We’re politically neutral but it is good to have her along as she was instrumental in the Marriage Equality Bill. And I think we still have one secret spot that yet to be announced.
TW: The event has grown over the years, have numbers increased?
SO: It’s probably somewhere over 500. We have probably have about 60 to 70 dogs enter. What has really grown is the stalls. We have people coming with stalls selling, you know doggy clothes and collars and bandanas and we have an ice cream truck this year for the first time.
So it’s just it’s something a bit bit festive and that’s the thing. You don’t need a dog You can just come and sit on the hill in the shade and just you know listen to my witty banter and just enjoy the fun vibes of it really it’s just good fun.
TW: So a real celebration of dogs, of fun, of life, and obviously the rainbow community as well.
SO: Yes, but everyone is welcome. It’s a crossover hybrid event. It’s family friendly. on the mic, but I’m aware of my audience. There’s lots of kids there and I love including them and making them feel special, as they should, because they are.
It’s fun and sassy and colourful and as long as you can get in that vibe and relax and just realise that we’re just here to have a laugh and enjoy dogs then you can’t not have a good time.
TW: Do you have any tips for those who plan to enter their dogs in the competition?
SO: Just have fun. There’s no rules, really. I mean, we’ve got the categories, but anything goes. Make it a little bit of effort. Don’t come down the runway with nothing. At least put put a flower lay on your dog minimum, or a colourful bandana at a minimum. Go to the garden and pick some flowers, make a daisy chain or something. Some people come wanting to win, some people really go all out.
Key Details for WOOF! 2026
- Date: Sunday, March 8th, 2026.
- Location: Western Park, Ponsonby (bottom of the park, near Beresford Street West), Auckland.
- Time: 1:00 PM (registrations) with the runway show starting at 2:00 PM.
- Categories: Best Dressed, Dog & Owner Lookalike, Best trick or talent, Most Camp, Most Butch, and Wee Woofers (kids).
- Cost: $5 per category, with all proceeds donated to the Auckland SPCA
