Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling

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

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

Connect and learn

Follow us on TikTok

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

Follow us on YouTube

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

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

Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling was written by Max Wallace, a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion specialist based in Aotearoa.

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Who is this for?

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

contact@rainbowceiling.co.nz

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

Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling

Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling

What is Beyond the Rainbow Ceiling?

Key Findings

The Report

Connect and learn

Follow us on TikTok

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

Follow us on YouTube

Follow us on YouTube

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

Follow us on YouTube

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

Rainbow Inclusion AI Advisor

About

About the author

About the author

About the author

Who is this for?

About the author

About the author

Acknowledgements

About the author

Acknowledgements

Contact

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

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

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