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My name is Patty. And, um, we came from Gisborne and Palmerston. Yeah. So what I can see today is just people coming together and finding commonality with each other and, um, learning from each other and finding understanding with each other. Yeah. So have you been on one of the, um, the in in Wellington before? No. This is my first. Uh, no. This is my first ever. First ever. First [00:00:30] time coming to awaken conference. Yeah, I'm from Palmerston North. My name is Levi. Um, around me, I can see a lot of smiling beautiful faces, rainbows. Um, and people are a lot like me. It's great. And so you mentioned the awaken Conference. What? What What is that? Uh, it's a It's a gathering of, um a lot of denominations. Yeah, that's coming together just to be ourselves and get to know each other. But, [00:01:00] um, yeah, yeah. And so you you're here for the Awaken Conference as well. Yeah, that's right. Um, the waken conference is, um, they've invited different denominations and different churches. Who minister or who are interested who work with the and LGBT groups. Yeah. So, um, that was we were interested in the of this programme. So that's why we came down for this year, because [00:01:30] that's the type of ministry that we see ourselves working in and is that kind of interfaith conference for Rainbow Communities? Is this the first time it's happened in New Zealand, or has it happened before? It happens every year. It's the first time it's actually happened in Wellington. It's my first ever time coming, So I'm fresh fresh to the scene. But yeah, it happens every year. So can you describe the kind of atmosphere here today? Um, besides the rain and cold, it's Wellington. [00:02:00] Um I think, like for for me anyway, a little uncertainty because we don't know there are some people that we know that are coming, so we're hoping to see them. But from what we see now, there's some people we don't know, but happy to get to, To make, you know, get to know people. I can see a bit of activism going on here. I mean, Jesus was an activist and, yeah, so this whole year has been, uh, a covid year. We've we've just gone through the first year of the pandemic. [00:02:30] How How has covid been for you. For me personally, it hasn't really affected my life hugely, Uh, a lot like a lot of others. I can still go to work and still live my my daily life without it really affecting me. Yeah, I think, um, during the covid time, I think it's just increased that sense of isolation. Um, and like, to be able to be in an event like this is actually, you know, helped us to come out of that sense of isolation [00:03:00] because when we were in covid like, we kind of just had to stay in our own spaces and in our own homes. And to be able to come into a social gathering like this, um actually is quite a good feeling. Yeah, just to get out of, um, a sense of lockdown. Hey, even though we're not in it Hi, I'm Sid. I'm here for the PS A and for my work at the, um, Capital Coast DH [00:03:30] B. Hi, I'm Mock. I'm here as part of the glamour phones. And yeah, I think this is my first time on the on the so not really sure What it what it's about so far. I, I was quite amazed this. So I've just arrived at the and we're just sitting up now. And the first thing I see is the hand sanitizer squad. It's It's It's such a different year this year, isn't it? Yes, definitely different. And also, there's no international pride parade either this year, so, uh, yeah, I'm hoping it's a lot bigger. [00:04:00] The will be a lot bigger because of that. How has, um, the last year been for you for in terms of, like, covid well, working at the hospital, it's It's been pretty full on. Yeah. So, uh, yeah, we've been so busy, and then we were not busy over lockdown. Busy busy closing everything up and then back on to it all afterwards. Um and yeah, there had been lots of stress people phoning up and that sort of thing. Yeah. So it's It's [00:04:30] been an interesting year. Well, I've just finished. Uh, a Well, in 2019, I finished a degree, um, of of studies. So, um, yeah, my lifestyle didn't really change that much, but yeah, I do realise that many people's lives were disrupted by the event. Uh, we are in the middle of Wellington. Um, my name's Michelle Doors. Um, and I'm here with my family. Uh, just just to, uh, enjoy the day to [00:05:00] be visible out and proud. Um, join our awesome, uh, young youth people. Um, and hopefully not get too wet. Is is this the first you've been on? Uh, yes, it is. My first. Yeah, I've been to a couple of the I've been to a few of the parades I'm I'm on the board of, So I'm kind of here to help represent we and, yeah, get into the support the cause. So, yeah. Um, yeah, I've been to a couple of these before. Um, I [00:05:30] don't know if they've always been here. I think they've been just a little bit down, but yeah, no, um, this is about my third time, I think, third year. So what stands for the Wellington International Pride Parade? What's the difference between the parade and this this morning? Um, my interpretation is this is more of just a march and get together. Whereas the parade is, um, on a larger scale event with, you know, um, thousands of Spectators. So yeah, and And that it goes down the main street and kind of You know, it kind of does that [00:06:00] kind of thing. Yeah, it really is. Um, you know, a bunch of, um, New Zealand, uh, Corporates and, uh, people and Rainbow Networks And, uh, you know, all getting together to, um celebrate, uh, and show, um, you know, hopefully young people coming out and living in Wellington that, um, they can get jobs. Um, you know that, um, the the community is welcoming to them, Uh, that the government's trying really hard to [00:06:30] kind of move forward and do all of those things. Yeah, just a real celebration of where we have come, Uh, where we are and where we're going and what needs to be done because there's a lot of work to be done. Um, you know, But, um, hope hopefully, we can, um, move to a space where everyone's welcome and included. And, um, I think, um, you know, I was just at the, uh, conference the last two days. Uh, the amount of goodwill, um, from the government from everyone, um uh was pretty incredible to see, so [00:07:00] Yeah. No, we're here to just carry on that good work and be visible. Yeah. Now, the first thing that greeted me today was, um, some covid hand sanitizer people. And I just realised we're in 2021. How has covid been for both of you? I mean, it's it's been a It's going to be a stressful, stressful year this year, too. It's mentally it's been hideous to be fair. Um, but, you know, I'm really proud of how New Zealand's, um responded and, [00:07:30] um, and that we can be here today and do this. Yeah. Yeah. Covid was hard work, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah, it still is. Um II. I like the hand sanitizer. Guys, that was really cool. I thought for a minute I just thought, Oh, gee, that's a little over the top in it. But then I thought, No, it's good in spirits. It's actually really great. Um, so I got my hand sanitised this morning, so that was all right. Um yeah. Covid. Um, let's just hope we can move on soon and vaccinate. Vaccinate! Vaccinate! [00:08:00] Vaccinate, Vaccinate! Vaccinate! Hey, that's the next step, isn't it? Um, so we can all just kind of move forward. Um, but yeah. Um, the well, the Wellington pride got cancelled, Probably more, mainly because of covid. So, um, looking forward to next year's parade and, um, got a year to to get it right. And, uh, hopefully, uh, get everyone involved. That would be fabulous. Um, so that everybody can show, um, the diversity that's out there, uh, celebrate together. [00:08:30] Show that we're all in it together. Um, yeah. Hi. I'm Roger Swanson. Um, I'm secretary of the Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand and a local Wellington and very happy to be out on the on the war front here waterfront. And we're just standing by, Frank. It's park, and, um, it has been raining this morning, but the the the rain's gone away and the the winds calm down, which is good. Yeah, supposed to be light light, um, southerly northerly winds and overcast as the forecast with [00:09:00] the odd shower in the morning, hopefully with the odd showers are gone. Now, today is, uh, Wellington's hikoi two out in the city this time and you're in the park. But we're in the park at the moment, going to the city, going to the Michael Fowler Centre. Um, can you describe for me the route that we're taking this year? No, idea it was towards Michael Fowler Centre. Whether it's along the waterfront or down the main street, I'm not sure, but I will follow whoever whoever [00:09:30] leads. So it It's kind of southwards here. I think so. Definitely southwards towards the Michael Fowler Centre. And we have have a welcome. When we get there. Can you describe, um, some of the people around us varied, very varied. Lots of young people with flags and rainbow flags And, um, yes, very, very happy crowd at the moment, very cheerful and chatting away, waiting for things to begin. And you've also got the, um, squad. I don't know what they are, but I'm sure they'll be very good. Whatever they do. I [00:10:00] I think they're doing hand sanitizer because it's our covid business, right? Yes. So we must We must pay attention. So we'll get our hands sanitised. Hopefully, that's all. That's all they gotta do, not spray us with stuff. And And this year Roger So leggins is actually, uh, walking in the are Indeed. We decided we needed to up our profile and to be there and be with the be with the groups, this community and so we've got a number of signs. We've got a home for your archives recording our voices, um, sharing our stories, [00:10:30] um, preserving our past, that one volunteer with us bringing our history to life, the headlines on each of our posters and then some items from the archive. And some are just our logo. And I see some of the images are from, uh, homosexual law Reform, which is the 35th anniversary this year. It is indeed, yes, the half time who just seemed like yesterday when we were marching down the street asking for our rights to be reinstated. What was that, like marching [00:11:00] down street in the in the mid eighties? Interesting. Something one, I hadn't done in a in A in a gay LGBT type way, but no, it was very empowering. Um, and it was fabulous to see the turnout was amazing. All ages, all families, everybody heaps of banners, heaps of, um, really energy, good energy. And you feel you're on the right side of history of that? You really did. I I was gonna say was was there much opposition to those street marches? Not really, No. There were lots of people along the side clapping and cheering. [00:11:30] And it was the odd one because I had to sign, um, Catholics, Catholics for law reform and yo, that, not me. It's like, you know, it's obviously push the button there, but it's OK. We knew he was in the minority, so that's fine. And, uh, this afternoon or or after the you, you're actually gonna be in a in a stall at the Michael Fall Centre. The end. Have a stall up on the second floor. I'm told it's number 27 wherever number 27 is. So, um, we got somebody there at [00:12:00] the moment setting up. And, um so, yes, we'll have a stall there with with some books for sale. Um, some of our new publications. And, uh, just if you want to find out about the archive and how you can assist us preserving our history, then it's a good place to come and talk to us. And the greens are always here because actually, we diversity is key to who we are in terms of a green perspective on the world. And there's so much about our daily lives that tries to stifle [00:12:30] that, and we've got to take these moments to release it and celebrate it. Kilda. Elizabeth, Uh, this is my community. I lived here for 20 years, and I've been part of all the activism, all of the fun, all of the craziness that our community embodies. And it's an opportunity, particularly for our young people to get out there, feel safe, feel like they belong and be proud to be part of our wider communities. James Shaw as the child of lesbian parents, uh, to me, it's quite personal that we, [00:13:00] uh, take these moments to, um, you know, continue to celebrate the diverse communities that make up this country. Ricardo Menendez. I think it's more important than ever to stand in solidarity with our trans non-binary and intersex communities right now, Um, because there's a long way to go to ensure that everybody has access to their rights. So we have two new members of Parliament here. How has it been in the first couple of months? Oh, there's a lot of work to do, and [00:13:30] I think what's really clear is that the greens have been a really, really strong voice on things like banning conversion therapy by Elizabeth's petition as well as, um, fighting for access to health care. Yes. And, uh, I was speaking at the conference, the cross agency Rainbow Network that was held at Parliament this week and just saying it's great that we're getting conversion therapy. It's great that we've got the and marriages and and relationship registrations. Uh, bill are being looked [00:14:00] at, uh, hopefully also my Human Rights amendment, but it's gonna be a rough, rough year for our trans intersex and non binary. All of the ugliness is gonna come out. So we, as our people us as MP S need to make sure that we're strongly strongly in solidarity because it's it's gonna be tough. This last year has also been really tough with covid. Um, for for everyone. What is your hope for this year? What? What what would you hope for? Well, I remember meeting, [00:14:30] um, with members of our communities, um, straight after the first lockdown, um, and the cross parliamentary group and I was really inspired by the work that they've been doing through the lockdown in terms of young people reaching out to young people, um, members of actually connecting to and making sure and others, um, from the disability community, making sure that actually our disabled needs full needs were being met. [00:15:00] And I really want to see as well as us holding the legislative change and pushing that that actually we're providing the support for that work to be done, which is what holds us together and builds strong community and all of our diversity. And, um, there's a lot to be done. But there's such amazing work happening. Yeah, I. I actually hope that, uh, actually, it doesn't turn into a toxic mess, Um, and that we're able to kind of engage [00:15:30] in, um, like the best aspects of nonviolent dialogue and and really try and work through it in a in a manner that gets the resolution that we want to get to without it sort of degenerating any further into, um, kind of hardened positions. I think the lockdown just showed that it's still not safe for many members of our communities to be in a bubble, whether it's family or peers. And so my hope for this year is that we continue fighting for housing that reflects the needs of our communities, knowing that our rainbow community is still very much [00:16:00] disproportionately affected by the housing crisis. Yeah. So hopes for this year that I'd like to see our youth suicide numbers going down. I'd like to see our people taking advantage of increased funding for mental health and making sure that money goes to where it's actually needed And who people are doing actual work. Uh, I want people to feel pride and being who they are and feel safe to be that outside of our events and outside of these festivals [00:16:30] and marches that in their homes and their places of worship in their communities that we can all be who we are. Um, I'm Miya, and I'm here at the Human Rights Commission, um, to take part today. Yeah. My name is Tane Polkinghorn here with the Human Rights Commission as well to enjoy the pride and celebrate our diversity. Can you just paint a picture of of what we can see in front of us? Absolutely. There is a lot of colour diversity. Um, amazing hairstyles. There is glitter. [00:17:00] There are rainbow laces. There are flags, placards, um, all sorts of amazing things. And I can't wait to see it walk through the streets of central Wellington. It makes me feel like I'm part of something bigger than me. The most powerful experience on the planet that I have had is knowing that there are other people just like me, and so as, um, as a member of Rainbow Communities as an out trans man. It's amazing to see this. I didn't have access to this kind of stuff when I was coming out [00:17:30] sort of 10 years ago. And, um, yeah, being able to be in touch with my elders and people coming behind me as well is just a really special feeling. Um, yeah, it's just an amazing sense of community. I think I've actually never been able to be a part of something like this, either, because back home I wasn't really out. And being here is just really cool to be obviously working for the Human Rights Commission. They're super accepting. But then seeing a larger community, um, and just people saying kind comments to me on the way here [00:18:00] in my like Rainbow gear, I'm like, Oh, thank you. It's just nice. It's really nice. I mean, we to be able to do this in person and not have a virtual pride. It's kind of blows my mind and my friends across the world are so jealous of what we've got here in a because it's it's so special. There's something that you can only feel by being here in person. I'm young and I go way back. I was involved in homosexual law reform, and [00:18:30] it's wonderful to see all these, um, varied people in rainbow colours. And, um, what strikes me, of course, is that they're all so young and so, um, open and happy. Um, it's just such a contrast from, um, back before law reform back, back in my childhood the, um lacking, you know, all the fear that was that's the overwhelming thing from the past that the the that the terror [00:19:00] we lived in that that, um even if you if you weren't, you know, caught red handed somebody might accuse you out of the blue, and you had to be somehow. And, um, you know, what did you do when it was a crime and when you could lose your job or your home? But no, no, this crowd is just lovely. It's, um I love I love being among them and, uh, you know, just enjoying the unity. [00:19:30] How many people do you think are here today? Hundreds, maybe 1000. Yeah. Yeah. And, uh, you know, to see a sign like over there from the greens. You know, I sort of that I first encountered that word when I was studying Maori in 1969. And, um, when it meant intimate companion of the same sex And then in the story of and [00:20:00] and, um, now look at it. I'm Vivian Chair and festival director for Pride. We're in Wellington Franks Park. Um, about to begin the youth led community led How How many people are here today? Oh, my God. I'm not too sure. Hopefully about 1000 people. It seems like quite a bit. So I'm very, very excited for people to turn up even though the rain blessed us this morning. But Sunny now. So very happy. Kyoto, Everyone [00:20:30] more happy Pride, everyone. Oh, that's too soft. Make it louder, please. Happy pride. Thank you so much for coming. I'm Vivian, um, chair and festival director for Wellington Pride. This year, we've got the committee here. We've got gecko. Some of you might know who's leading a youth. Um, we've got Sarah. And we've got Catherine. Not too sure who the rest of my committee is. Well, we've got Shash. Thank you so much for helping us [00:21:00] this year and their team with New Zealand sign language as we become more accessible for our people. Um, so safety briefing to begin with that first. So, um, Tabby will lead to Tabby and inside out youth led will be at the back over there, leading from Frank. It's park off to the waterfront and on to the Michael Fall Centre. Um, there will be a traffic light stop. So there'll be a bit of pause and hold in there. So just sure that you listen to and follow the direction of the Maori wardens, the glamour phones and [00:21:30] the committee just for safety. If there is any protest today, which I do anticipate might happen. So just for your own safety, do not approach them. Please. The wardens are here. The security is here, and we will We will be with them. Sorry. Um, but that is pretty much it around. Security, we'll start, will welcome us at 11 a.m. at the centre. Um and then out in the city will begin at 12. So thank you so much for coming. And [00:22:00] for today I would just like to thank the committee for the entire year for working so hard for pride. So give them a round of applause, please. Thank you so much. Um, to the opening show. That was amazing if you were there. So give a shout out to Jaden and Paris and crew for cementing pride for blessing pride with Maori and bringing a blessing into pride. So give a shout out to the hit [00:22:30] to the biggest private youth board. Yet led by Gecko, there was 450 people queer young people that turned up at Victoria University celebrating the queerness celebrating being beautiful. That was stunning. Can you still hear me? Cool. Sorry. So give a shout out to Geo as well. I would just like to say to the people who are against us today, remember that I am brown, queer [00:23:00] and vicious Non-binary and I finally have a seat on this table. And by that I had a seat on the table. You better watch your back, bitch. Yeah. So protect our trans people. Our non indigenous folk are queer people protect each other, please. And thank you so much. Welcome to pride. And if you have any questions, if you have any comments, make sure to follow us. Make sure to, um just, um, keep us updated with that. Thank you so much. So let's begin the [00:23:30] happy pride, everyone, Uh, today we have, uh, the last day of the Wellington Pride Festival, Uh, beginning with a bit of a march along the waterfront, Um, to our final event called out in the city at the Michael Fowler Centre. So the is being led by the youth. Um, and they're gonna lead us down the waterfront to the Michael Fowler Centre. How many people are here today? I've got absolutely [00:24:00] no idea. I don't know how to kill people. We estimated maybe 500 to 1000 but I really don't know. And it's so colourful and diverse. It is. Indeed. Our city is colourful and diverse. Our community is colourful and diverse. Is this the first? Um, you've marched in? No, not at all. No. Um we've been doing this every year for a while now. As far as I'm aware, I, I think I marched in the first one that was ever held quite a few years ago. And what was the feeling like? [00:24:30] It's just really heartwarming, I think, Um, especially with, uh, the the kids. Um, leading the It's a beautiful thing was a job. Don't assume your kids astray. 1234. OK, 567 minutes. Don't assume your kids as straight. 1234 Open up the closet door. 567 minutes. Don't assume your kids are straight. [00:25:00] What the hell? Oh, when you when you see this? Uh, Tony. What? What? What do you think? How do you feel? I feel very good about it. And, um, it's great that so many people have come together and, um, are taking part in it. Could you have imagined something like this 30 or 40 years ago? Uh, not at all. No. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. It would just wouldn't have happened. [00:25:30] Uh, the biggest march that I took part in was in 1986. When for law reform. There were a couple of marches along Lampton. Um, but they weren't at all like this. We're just [00:26:00] on the pride. We've just arrived outside the Michael Fowler Centre. Just a lot of people crossing the road. So we're just waiting for them to catch up with us, I guess. And we've got the, um is led by a beautiful group, a big group of from around the region. I know we've got young people here from the hut and car as well as Wellington. Um, we've got some great signs saying we want safe schools for rainbow. Yeah. So it's a beautiful turn out. It must be so inspiring for you, having [00:26:30] spent so many years kind of working for, um, safety in schools for for rainbow people. Yeah. Yeah. It is actually the group who are holding the inside out banner at the very front of the parade. Um, I believe they're mostly students from, um, Newlands Intermediate, who is currently supporting to start a rainbow diversity group. So the fact that, um, these intermediate students can, um, start that group in their school and be out here, Um, leading the pride. He is just beautiful. I'm a I'm the national coordinator at gender minorities. [00:27:00] Um, it's such an amazing turnout today. I think it's probably twice as big as it was last year. There are so many people here. Uh, it's amazing seeing like, all the youth at the front carrying the inside out banner, Um, in the intersex trust, it has done amazingly. Um, you know, there's, like, so many people with great signs and flags and just looking really bright and colourful and happy. It feels, you know, it feels beautiful when you see so so many people and so many young people. Um, how how does that make you feel Really proud? [00:27:30] Yeah, genuinely. I think it's, um it's amazing. It's so powerful to see everybody coming together. And you know, just being who they are. Yeah. Can you describe some of the the flags and signs we see? Um, yeah, I can see a a sign. Um, from the greens, I can see bodily integrity for life. There are, um, intersex pride, and, um and I can see safe schools for rainbow. There's like, um, [00:28:00] yeah, there are heaps of I can see the flag and, uh, heaps. All the all the different rainbow flags. This year has been pretty hard in terms of the the covid global pandemic. How has how has covid affected? Um, the work of gender minorities. I think people are having a really hard time. There's a lot more. I think I think all the kinds of social, you know, the kind of societal issues that are happening, like housing and healthcare and that they're all just kind [00:28:30] of exacerbated. Yeah. So I think, people. Yeah, there's a lot of struggle happening, and lots of people have lost their source of income and things like that. So, um, I think it's having a real impact on people's mental health and ability to connect to others in the community and things. So I think things like this really important to, you know, to remind people that Hey, you know, we're still a community. We're still all here, and we're still fighting the good fight. What is your hope for this year, then? Um, [00:29:00] a complete overhaul of the health care and housing systems. Yeah, just by next week would be good. Oh, go up to the second floor of the Michael ball. Let's it. [00:29:30] OK, go. No go. Maybe I and I Hey, Tony here. Yeah. Fuck. [00:30:00] Hello. [00:30:30] Oh, [00:31:00] [00:31:30] to, [00:32:00] um, they have played Oh, my God. Yeah. [00:32:30] Now he didn't go right. Pretty Me. [00:33:00] Oh, [00:33:30] yeah. Go. Yeah. Spoil Yeah. [00:34:00] Were [00:34:30] in my Oh, really? [00:35:00] [00:35:30] Well, the what? I thought I thought it was [00:36:00] [00:36:30] [00:37:00] [00:37:30] [00:38:00] on the radar. No. 17. [00:38:30] [00:39:00] [00:39:30] Oh. [00:40:00] Oh, around me. [00:40:30] No. See you dot com. I would just like to thank. You know, UET for a time I thought I speak. I'm quite overwhelmed at the moment. Um, so, So much hard work over the past. Sorry. So much hard work with [00:41:00] And, um, so much difficult conversations, um, to have had as one of the only brown indigenous. And I keep on saying it because it is difficult to have these tough conversations with institutions that might not like us. Um, but leadership is key, and that's how we challenge them. Um, and I bring my aunties, my ancestors, uh, my friends, my family with me when I come to the stage. So thank you so much for turning out today. [00:41:30] Yeah, I like to thank Um um, for working so hard, Um, you know, for having one of the flagship event hit with the leadership of ja and Paris. Um, thank you for blessing us with that, um, performance, um, at the opera house, um, To showcase indigenous power and indigenous strength in a society [00:42:00] that that might not be welcoming to many of us. Um, so thank you for blessing us, Jan, with your gift and to To to Wellington and to New Zealand. Um, I would like to thank all of you for turning up today, um, for showing up at 10 o'clock in the morning. I'm sorry I tried to push the 11, but my committee did not allow that, but yeah, we all turned out. So thank you so much for that. Um, the the rain blessed us this morning as the rain will show. And, um, the sky is cleared. [00:42:30] So that's the ancestors blessing all of us. So thank you so much to our ancestors for blessing us, Um, to all the stallholder tonight. Tonight, um, to all the stakeholders. Thank you so much for participating. Um, this is the first time you've brought out in the past to become part of the city. And so the reason is because, um, we wanted to make a wheelchair accessible. Sometimes our society is so ableist and to think of our most marginalised, we should put them in the forefront of our thinking all the time [00:43:00] and get to the New Zealand sign language again. Accessibility is key, and we're going to keep on building on that, um, as we go on further the pride on the legacy of Roxy from the past, it was just over there. So thank you so much. Roxy for Yeah, um, thank you for your support, as always. Um, thank you for letting me come to you as my elders, um, for [00:43:30] advice and guidance. So thank you so much for guiding me. Um, I might be loud and all of that, but you you really put so much support, um, to me to guide me to show me that I am doing good work. So thank you so much for that. Um, yeah. Happy pride everywhere. I think that's pretty much it. Thank you so much for turning up today. Um, yeah. So all the people who have the event. Thank you. Thank you. We'll keep on building pride next year. Any any feedback that come to me as we begin to listen more to our marginalised, marginalised communities [00:44:00] and we've got more platforms for them. Thank you for yourself. I can hear die. I [00:44:30] in the kingdom. Oh, Denmark. You love him. [00:45:00] again. My I can. Yeah. Bye. Found it. Pity hard. [00:45:30] Yeah, me. No, on. [00:46:00] Fuck, yeah, [00:46:30] Yeah, he out of [00:47:00] Hi. The family family. Um, I'm Ken. Uh, I come from a little town called Do you guys know it? And, um, I moved there in about 2012 with my father, and we relocated from this place called Gisborne. Uh, do you know where Gisborne is? You fellas, um so And ladies and gentlemen, and those lovely people [00:47:30] in between, I don't have my I have, um some of my languages can sometimes be, uh, uh, mentor. So, like, I'm challenging myself to, uh, not, uh, misgender people just through the normal day to day language that I speak. But also, I'm worried from that, but so I'm used to sort of, you know, just delving in the dangerous voices every so often. Sorry, I'm not quite prepared today. Um, I like to go with spontaneity, as many of our beautiful people in our community do. Um however, this fellow [00:48:00] was up late last night going Oh, OK, let's try to go to talk tomorrow. What are you talking about? And I've had nearly a week to prepare and I just left it all last minute. So what I'm gonna talk to you guys about today is a little bit of my journey, Um, here to, um, Wellington, this big, huge apple of our country. And where I come from, uh, homosexuality, Uh, ge a non-binary, uh, transgender wasn't really talked [00:48:30] about. And it's it's quite common across for all of the country that that had happened in certain pockets in certain places in our communities. But where I came from, there was this massive stereotype that you had to be a hunter, a gatherer. Represent your father on the play. Play your life was what, um, your assigned gender told you to be, and I thought that was cool. But while I was over here doing with the boys, I was looking over there looking at the girls, doing all the and all the lovely, and I wanted to take a trip over there, but I [00:49:00] was held back, um, until I met my grandparents. And, um, my grandparents were actually the first people to allow me to flourish into this great, beautiful beast before you today. And they taught me patience. They taught me understanding. They taught me to let my light shine, no matter what colour it may be. No matter, no matter where you may go, just always remember that if you've got your or your ancestors with you, [00:49:30] they'll help you in every single space and place that you come upon. And so when we took the plunge to move to Wellington, I was like, I don't know anybody there. Do the people even know, like about our people because, you know, living in a small town, I thought all the Maori are here. So moving to Wellington every single Maori person that I met from the first day till about three months down the track, every single Maori person was allowed to put where I'm proud to put my, um So I left home, went through a transition [00:50:00] and found home again. And the community that is a part of upper heart that is a part of lower heart that is part of the greater Wellington region. And I stand here proudly before you. Um, as 10 years ago, I was this quiet, bookish person would never allow my life to shine unless somebody hurt me. Um And so through that shame or through that, the fear of shame or the fear of other people's opinions weighing on my, um, standing in this world and my which I am proud to say that I can step into because it's every [00:50:30] single one of us has a in front of us Our ancestors are gently nudging us from behind saying Go test those boundaries, feed the fridge, fill the gap. And so I stand here as a proud Maori 24 year old since 25 male and I stand proud. Um, um, I have I I'm a I'm a collection of [00:51:00] I'm a collector of wisdom and of and of kindness, and I like to spread wherever I go And so one form of spreading is to share or which are proverbial sayings from, um our people that have to guide us and walk in this world and allow us to explore to the beauty of metaphor and words. So I have two. The first is from my one of my ancestors. Uh, his name was he was a Maori member of Parliament back in the day when that wasn't so popular, [00:51:30] and he was a person who represented not only my but our people in a and his say was What that means is, uh, go forth and prosper, prosper pro Go forth [00:52:00] and prosper in the world before you with your hands to the tools of the to cover a pathway for your body but with your heart to the teachings and the knowledge and the of your ancestors to wear with pride upon your ground and your heart and your soul to the person. Whoever your soul derives from who you believe you, you get your soul from or that your soul connects to. For they are the things that have allowed you to be in this space, and they have created these opportunities for you to take part in. So that was my interpretation of that one thing. And then [00:52:30] the last one is very short, very small, Um, which means we've come too far to not go further. And we've done too much to not do more. Bye, Council Councillor. [00:53:00] Hi, It's me again. Thank you so much. Cameron Cameron stepped up late last minute just to give me a call and like, Hey, how can we work together? Let's join the cities together from upper Heart to Wellington to low heart. We're gonna join the next step right next year. We're looking forward to that. Um, so thank you so much, Cameron. Um, so leave the land today we've got all the stores, so feel free to visit all the stores purchase support our our people. Um, and also, there's gonna be entertainment [00:53:30] the entire time from 12 o'clock. Um, and we've got two lovely M CS today, So these two beautiful people, we will be meeting today, So I'll this is the last thing you've heard. Hopefully, um, but I'll pass it on to the two of you. OK? Happy pride. Yeah.
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