Mike Sheeran
, 32, is the programme manager for Proud Centre, Auckland Council’s annual initiative for the Auckland Pride Festival. His partner Paul Pooke
, 37, originally from the UK, is an accounts assistant. They’ve been together for four years.
MIKE: I’d been single for a year when I met Paul. I’d come out of a toxic relationship and had tried dating apps without success. I’d actually sworn off using them but then I met Paul via another type of app – Instagram.
We’d liked each other’s Instagram posts and he sent me messages. I would take a few days to respond but didn’t expect anything to come of it. When Paul posted photos of a walk at Anawhata that I commented on, he suggested we do the walk. But it was raining that day so instead he took me to an art exhibition of dead birds at Silo Park. Not that romantic but it was interesting.