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My name's, uh, I produced an event, uh, as part of the Wellington Pride Festival called Rainbow Pacifica. It's the second event of its kind. I did the 1st 12 years ago at as part of the Wellington Pacifica Festival, and we're at in the attic, which is level three of the Wellington Museum, which is at three. It's an amazing space. Can you just describe for me what the space is like? Oh, OK, [00:00:30] so there needs to be more, um, Maori stuff, which that's a work in progress and Polynesian stuff in general. But, I mean, there's a big giant over there. Did you go past it? And when you go past it, he goes P 555. I don't know some mechanical puer. There's a flying saucer in here. There's a stuffed lion, Rusty. Poor rusty they like. That's an actual legit lion memorabilia. Is that enough? Yeah, absolutely. So in amongst all of us, we have got things set up for [00:01:00] this event. Can you describe some of the things? Oh, yes. So I have a five metre long poster, and it's about 100 and 53 centimetres wide, uh, designed by Maori artist. Uh, she does a lot of designs for political and community organisations. It is amazing we've got We've already got one person in here at 10 o'clock who started to colour that in. We've got a Children's table set up on the side because we don't want them to run the bigger picture so [00:01:30] they get their own picture. Um, in one end in the room, we have Peter from the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, who's set up a quiet space. It's curtain. It's private for people if they want to come in and get tested for free for HIV and syphilis. Um, if you don't want to do it in that space, you can you've got a home kit that you can take away, and Peter will explain how you use that, Uh, and then on this side, we've got the capital room, which is like an old meeting room [00:02:00] of the harbour board. And we've got Geo. Uh, who's the programme lead for an LGBT QI A plus, uh, Maori Pacifica, Uh, youth organisation. I'm based in Gisborne and her boss, Maria Taylor. Uh, who runs village. Uh, I think that's what runs under. They're both here from Gisborne picked [00:02:30] them up from the airport yesterday. And they're setting up the grazing table, and Joe will be performing later. And I'm at the DJ table setting stuff up for our three DJ S who aren't really Technically, they're not DJ S. But there are three outstanding, uh, young men in the community. We have Chris, OK? DJ, who is quite a well known artist in a We have a, uh, Tuvalu. He, [00:03:00] uh, is originally from Auckland, and he's a very well known actor. He's been lots of stuff. I. I saw him in the French festival a couple of years ago. He did a one man show called this. It was amazing. Um, and then we have Karen MEREDITH who, uh, does the marketing for city mission. Yeah, he's a bit nervous, but I reckon he'll kick us. Yeah. Oh, and we're going to have free lunch at 12. And you've also got a, uh, an open mic for for poetry. That's right. The spoken word. Um, I've got a run sheet here. [00:03:30] That's some time in the afternoon for all you buddy in. Because I know our kids really love spoken word. That's at about two o'clock. Um, there'll be an opportunity for people to come up and do their thing, you know? And I've got, um, little prizes for people of you know, who are the first person who's gonna be brave enough. I've got a cap with the rainbow Pacifica logo to give away, And I might have, uh, something else, like a jacket with [00:04:00] the logo printed on it to give away. Why was it important to have a specifically a rainbow Pacifica event? Uh, just for, uh, representation. Uh, there's not many events in the pride festival geared towards that part of the community. And I think it might create a barrier for people to come, because if they don't see anything that's reflective of them, they're less likely to participate. [00:04:30] But I think there are people out there, uh, who definitely would like to come to, you know, pride in that if there's something catered towards them, um, it's also the youth, uh, stuff as well. We've talked about this before. Um, just say, don't want people, you know, people feeling lonely. It's it's an all. This is a family friendly or ages event. Um, and you can come in and connect, [00:05:00] you know, in person with people and set it on the Internet. It's a good way to connect and engage. I love engaging with people even though I come across as grumpy and antisocial. But, um, um, I think it's really important. Are you able to take me across to the colouring in table and just describe some of the words and the images that are on there? We've got about the, um, visual memorial tribute that, [00:05:30] uh, created. It's for people in our rainbow community who have passed the spec specifically. It's playing on this like the screens three floors high. It's amazing. Should come and have a look at that, too. OK, so oh, the words. They're all like oceanic words for gender and sexuality because I mean pre missionary precolonial times, gender and sexuality. We, uh, [00:06:00] in Oceania. It's a lot more fluid than I guess, Western, but Western is moving towards that. This that's for, I think, same companions. But I. I think that's still a modern word. It's been around for ages that someone want to be like a woman who is Hawaiian. Um, that's pretty new, too. And what about some of the imagery. Can you describe that corn beef? That's pretty self explanatory. [00:06:30] I think. I just told to go with it and she came up with lipstick and lips, you know? Oh, bananas. Yum. It's making me hungry. POY heels. You know, flora and fauna. People dancing warriors. It's pretty indicative of, um, the different cultures across the Pacific. Yeah. And so I'm sure by the end of the day, this will be completely coloured in. [00:07:00] What? What will happen after that? Um, I'm gonna find an organisation Who will have it on the wall because, uh, the the first thing we had, we tried to make the world's longest rainbow lay. And that still hangs up in at Evolve Youth. That's on street. So we're gonna have a few people from there here. Uh, uh. Some of the workers here, too. They haven't arrived yet. And And can you just take me over to the memorial wall and just, um, tell me a wee bit about that and and how that came about? Oh, yeah. [00:07:30] I mean, I was emotional the first time I watched it. I don't know if it's because I'm getting older, but I just seem to notice more of our community passing on, but I think it's also a particular generation. I really think it's important to remember them and the impressions they left on everyone else, like, for the most part. Good. And I think there was something I was really touched when thy coff spoke out on the park. Particularly about, uh, Lee [00:08:00] Smith. I mean, the wider community, especially Maori, not giving him enough credit for how he pretty much revitalised Maori. So he's in that and he passed away last spring. I mean Oh, God, I remember meeting him. When I was a teenager, I really hated him. And then the old man kind of grew on me, and I realised that he, you know, he's actually quite a softy. I mean, all watching it as a guy. His rider August, um, and unfortunately, also passed. [00:08:30] Uh, maybe it was the last year, but, I mean, I don't even think Rider was in the early twenties at the oldest. Um, yeah, there's a lot of people here who were part of the earlier waves, um, of people who contracted HIV who have passed, uh, Andrew Chadwick. I think it's important for people to know, Uh, their, uh, rainbow history. Yeah, and it's a massive [00:09:00] memorial projection. This goes over three floors down, doesn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, they deserve it. Yeah, I mean, I thought was a pain in the butt, but he was so creative. Like, I think I was 14 when I met him. He was just He's amazing. I. I thought, Yeah, it was funny, because that love hate thing, But you never gonna meet anybody like him ever again. Are you able to, um, just say some of the names as as they come up Jason Olson, [00:09:30] his creative passed away in a Australia. Quite a few of these people passed away last year, which I was a bit shocked. It was kind of like a bit of a steamroll. Um, there's Warren Douglas. He's this amazing dancer, um, amazing Maori Jewish lesbian musician, um, Chris. And it's so cool, because down on the next floor is the neon sign from the evergreen coffee lounge that that she owned [00:10:00] for years. I met her as a kid, too. I spent a lot of my youth in that coffee lounge. It probably saved my life too. Oh, and Derek, owner of boy hairdressing. They started out in Newtown, and there's he's, like, a mentor to me. Grumpy old men. But yeah, and Donna de Milo. I mean, she's a legend, or at least at least coming up. This is a beautiful picture. [00:10:30] Yeah, it's so lovely to to have them projected on onto this wall and to have them here today. Yeah, I think so. Thanks for saying that, Gareth. But, um, like, we're hoping to maybe keep this every year and just add to it. Um, the the thing about it was that it was the time that we had and just trying to get permission from families or friends. Uh, because I don't want to use photos without anyone's permission. Yeah, but yeah. I. I think Tasha has done a fantastic [00:11:00] job. So thinking about today, what do you hope to To To to have out of out of today? Oh, I just hope more people turn up and have a good time, you know, and that we get some feedback that this is something that the community wants. Otherwise I'm gonna have to look, look, have a rethink about what to do. But I did hear it through on the Internet. There were quite a few kids from Auckland that actually wanted to come down but didn't have [00:11:30] the means. So that was pretty encouraging for me, considering Auckland's got a big, bigger population. So I'm thinking if I have it in the budget next year, maybe I could get a van and, um, arrange for some older people in the community to bring these young people down. Right? So we're in the attic at Wellington Museum. Um, with this fabulous rainbow Pacifica, Um, experience is going on. Um, my role is I work in the community engagement team here at Wellington [00:12:00] Museum. Um, and it's just just an absolute, um, joy for us to be here today. Doing this. Yeah. So, Rachel, why is it important to to have, um, events like this Rainbow Pacifica event? Uh, the the community engagement team, The whole museum. We're really focused on having visitor experiences that are meaningful people. And we look a lot at who comes to the museum, but we're actually more concerned with who doesn't come to the museum and how we can make the museum relevant for the people who don't come. So they do feel like that [00:12:30] they are part of this museum. Um, so it's really important for us that that we form relationships with communities through this sort of glorious community day kind of, um, where people come in and they take the museum over and and it's their kind of, um, their kind of rules of engagement for the day. And we're just there to sort of support it and hopefully form relationships that mean this is now an ongoing, um, an ongoing sort of partnership in in into the future. One of the [00:13:00] things I really love is that the event is taking place in amongst all the museum, so it's not in a separate room, but it's actually in the attic. And And when I say the attic, I mean the attic is just full of wonderful. It's it's really lovely to be in the museum, and it it's way more welcoming for everybody to be part of that and not not locked away in a room. But it's also I. I actually think the objects really enjoy it because I think it kind of brings the space alive like there's music and there's a and [00:13:30] there's warmth and there's people, um, engaging and having fun together and talking and I. I think I believe that the objects probably really like that. One of the things I also love is you. You've got, like, a a kind of a three story high, um, projection wall with, um, at at the moment it's showing, um, images of people that have passed. Can you tell me a little bit about that? So that that's called our tool screen and that that's something pretty special. And we can We can play on that all throughout the day and we can programme Um, what? [00:14:00] Whatever community bring it to us and would like us to programme. We can put that in there. So today and her crew have put this film together. Um, in a few weeks, Um, there's going to be, uh, something here when there's gonna be 24 women, um, talking about intersectionality of feminism, and that will be put up on there. So it's Actually, it's a way to make the museum relevant, like the exhibitions don't change. And so how do you bring people in and how do you show this is contemporary and we're We're concerned with people here and now and of the moment and what people, um, [00:14:30] are passionate about. And so and what people? What work? People are doing their money. So you put it, put it on the tour scheme. And suddenly you've got this amazing, contemporary, vivid now thing going on. Yeah. So how do communities come in and be a part of of of the museum? How how does that work? We approach people and people approach us, and we this sort of, you know, historically, museums have sat back and thought, We will do this for this community. They haven't thought we will do this with this community and they haven't. [00:15:00] It's another step again to go. We're handing this over. We'll support it, can be done by the community. And so we we're kind of in early days, but it is a lot of it is really important that it's it's kind of really relation to it. You know, you you meet someone, you talk to someone and somebody knows somebody, and and and it kind of rolls from there and and I guess ultimately you get, um you know, somebody will say to somebody that museum is open to this sort of thing. We're a really small museum. We can kind of be sort of agile like that. We haven't got big [00:15:30] rules around us, you know? It's like, now one of the things I've been asking other people. It's a wee bit of out of left field. But, um, if you had a magic wand and you could wave it at anything or anyone, what would you waive it at and why? Oh, if I had a magic wand, I'd wave it over everybody. And just like that, they'd be kind, because I think that this world would be a good place. This country would be a good place. This city would be a good place if everybody came from just from a position of kindness. [00:16:00] So, um, my name is Geo, and I am, um, the programme lead for a in Gisborne, um, under the village. And, um, it's just been a space where it's safe for our, um, rainbow to come and just chill and talk about things that's happening. And, you know, um, run functions for them where they, um, [00:16:30] are participating, and they want it. Instead of trying to make something up for them and then forcing them into it. So, yeah, it's all about creating safe space for our, um our as well as working towards them. And, um, you know, building a better future for our for everyone. Um, because growing up in, um, it was there was no options for our. So, um, I guess it's my chance now and with the help of [00:17:00] the director of village to do something for our for our in Gisborne. So how did how did it all come about? Um, so once upon a time, So I'm a, um my background is hairdressing and makeup artistry. And once upon a time, Elizabeth came up to me in the salon and said, She's starting up this programme, um, at village. And it's, um it's for our And she wants [00:17:30] some leaders in there. And I was like, Yeah, sure. So, um, went along with no expectations whatsoever. Um, and five? Yeah, five months down the track. I am here, and I'm working for them. Yeah, So I've left my hairdressing job, and now I'm doing, um, youth work for our, which is great. So can you describe, um, some of the activities that you do. Um, so we've only ran maybe two months worth of programmes. [00:18:00] And, um, what we're doing at the moment is just, um you know, building and structuring our group. So it's solid. But as well as, um, we've got a big celebration for coming up, um, in July, which is a pre and which is very exciting, and I knew their part. And, um, the celebration is actually putting on a wearable arts creation. And within these creations, we'll represent the seven sisters [00:18:30] of. So that's, um, our next project that we're looking forward to. And that's what we're doing at the moment is just creating these garments for, um, celebration. And what's the response been from in in Gisborne? Um, the response has been really good. Um, the the has been real great. They've been coming and going, you know, you do have your solid, your solid few, and then some come and then go. So, um, it's been really good, but I think it's just keeping the consistency [00:19:00] there for, you know, having a space for them is great. And then, you know, um, they will eventually all come one once upon a time. But, um, at the moment, maybe our numbers are looking at a good, solid seven, which is great. And then, um, you know, because we like to work with, um, with quality, not, you know, and you were saying that when you were growing up, there wasn't any kind of group like this? Yeah. So once upon a time, not so long ago. Um, yeah. There [00:19:30] was no, um, support group at all. Um, maybe there was, but I didn't know about it. Um, and, uh, fortunately, I had, um a lady by the name of she was basically my transgender mother. They helped me through my walk in, um, society in Gisborne. Yeah. And then now I think it's my time to give back and ask for our younger ones. So So can you describe what it was like growing up in Gisborne? I'm I'm thinking this is what in the two thousands, [00:20:00] Um, so I think it was all I. I personally enjoyed it. Um, I guess because I'm quite, um, comfortable in myself. It was easy for me. Um, I'm not talking for everyone. I'm just talking from my experience. I. I enjoyed it. There was you know, little rough patches, but I guess you know, everyone has rough patches, and it's Yeah, I was fortunate enough to have, um, family that, um, was really supportive. And I came from a background where there was lots of, [00:20:30] um, rainbow before me, So I just became just another one. Just another one to add on to the list. Um, so, yeah, it was great. Um, having grandparents that, you know, sort of grounded me and having a mom that was fully supportive. So yeah, and I. I find it just amazing how how these groups can actually come out of just one meeting from Elizabeth. Yes. So what actually happened was Elizabeth and Maria, um came to agreement to [00:21:00] do the group, and it was, honestly, just a talk in the hair salon. And then from there we had another guy called Trev. He helped, um, it was me and him that actually sort of, um, helped start it all up, and yeah, and it's amazing how, um how much it's grown from, Just, you know, a picture and a brainstorm to reality. Can can you see a change in the people coming? I believe I can It's just, I guess [00:21:30] because GIs is such a tiny place. Um, you know, people maybe are not comfortable enough to come out just yet, But, um, that's what I want to promote is, you know, hopefully in the near future, um, things like celebrating diversity, um, will become, you know, because I hope that just being whoever you are, it will become normal. And so it just, you know, just celebrating each other's diversity will be, um, amazing. And then everything [00:22:00] is just just comes into line with with, um, all our and stuff. And so today you're here at the, uh, Rainbow Pacifica event in Wellington. Um, what what brought you here today? So, um, came down to Gisborne, and she we had a really good talk. Um, we had a I had a with her and she was telling me about this, and I was like, Yes, I'm gonna come. And then, um, we had a talk with the boss, and she was all good for it. So Amalia happily, um, funded [00:22:30] our trip to come down. Um, come down to Wellington and enjoy the space. And, you know, just connect with, um other rainbow outside of our comfort zone of, um, so, yeah, um, and I was fortunate enough to be put on the spot to do a performance, so yeah, just to top it off and And can you tell me about the performance today? OK, so my performance today is just gonna be a a traditional, [00:23:00] um, that was composed by my grandpa and, um, back in my great grandfather, I should say, back in, um, back in the eighties. So it will be, uh it will be a nice, um, time to just, you know, share share culture with everyone. Um, because, you know, it's I think that's where our identity sort of starts from as our background. And who are we who we are and where we come from, So yeah, and hopefully this my dance may [00:23:30] help our, um maybe our be more, um, comfortable in their skin And who they are as well. If you had a magic wand and you could waive it at anything or anyone, who would you wave it at first or what would you wave it at first and why? Um hm. This is a good question. Who would I waive it at? There's a lot of people who don't wave this one day, but I guess I'll just, um [00:24:00] if I had to waive it at something, I'll waive it at mindset. Um, I wave it in the mindset where, um where things are not so inclusive. So I'll maybe I'll first I'll waive it at schools. I think I'll wave at the mindset of schools, um, to support our and, um have you know, because they like to say that school is a safe place. Um, so hopefully, if we waive [00:24:30] that wand and make sure that, um, the mindsets do change and help, um, help our prosper with education, I think, um, that will be a great, great start to for our young generation. Oh, I'm Taylor. I am currently living in Gisborne. And the reason why I came today was to support, um, Rainbow to support Lei and to support, [00:25:00] um, Rainbow community. Um, in this amazing event, um, we also have a young person. Um who, um, does some work with us at village, um, which is a space central space in Gisborne. Um, that was created last year, so I wanted to come down and support her. Could you tell me about Geo's work in the village. So Geo is obviously you've met Geo. She's a beautiful. She's, um she has decided, um, [00:25:30] her and a few other young people have decided that there needs to be a really safe space. Um, for young people in Gisborne, um, who identify as rainbow. And so she's created that space. Um, you know, like, she creates little activity, um, nights and things like that. And she, um, hangs out with, um the kids. We've had a few upcycling, um, clothing, um, initiatives that she's, um, actively part of. So, yeah, she's like, she's like the creator of all cool [00:26:00] things for Rainbow in Gisborne. Why is it important to have those safe spaces? Well, I think, um, especially in Gisborne. We've got some high statistics for some pretty, um, you know, for some quite sad things, um, suicide being one of them. And, um, we've got There are not many spaces in Gisborne that are centric. Whilst we have a lot of, um, education spaces and where young people go, they're not exactly the spaces that young people want to hang [00:26:30] out in all the time. You know, they're kind of specifically for education or specifically for sports, which is awesome. But there's no spaces that are specifically for to just go and chill and and be safe and and meet other and and have some just have, like activities. It's not really like a Yeah, there's no real drop in kind of centres where we were back in the day, you know, there were drop in centres. Um, there's not anything like that in Can you see [00:27:00] a change in the, um you know, starting out coming to Geo's group and then, you know, a couple of weeks later, um, I have I've already seen, um, young people be just I mean, Geo's got this whole thing around, Um, being your authentic self and which I think is amazing. I. I think it's not just for young people. I think it's for everybody. Um, you know, we all are striving to become more of our authentic self, and but the young people that have come into her space have just become a little bit more vocal. Um, they're [00:27:30] smiling more so we've met some young people who have kind of come in, you know, with the hair down and kind of, you know, and now it's Hi, you know? So even, you know, people might think, Oh, you know, Well, it's not much, but it's actually huge in a place like, um um, and I actually think that it's probably huge in other areas, too, where young people are kind of you give them a space to be able to express their authentic self. They're more likely to, um, feel more comfortable and seen. So [00:28:00] there's this whole thing about not being invisible anymore and actually being seen not being, um, and and also being heard. So it's been pretty amazing. She's pretty on to it and her team are amazing, and they're all young people. So we should just sit down and let them do what they need to do. What's the future of the group? Um, I know that the group have, like I said, that it's it's run. So they're making [00:28:30] decisions about where they want to hit. So they've, you know, they're strategically thinking about and putting in place now, um, little kind of what do you call it? Um, just steps towards, um, making it more, um, sustainable. Um, as I don't know, if you know about, um, but, you know, we're quite there's a massive rural community there, so we've already has already started, um, connecting in with some coast, um, and that so that's [00:29:00] so and and as a result of that, every fortnight is now gonna be part of her. Um is to travel up to the coast and connecting with those and create together what needs to happen for them. So it's it's I. I think it's gonna be ongoing. I don't think I don't think it's something that's just gonna stop tomorrow. It's not. It's not like an event where you have an event and then it just stops. It's one of these, um, she's really focused on making sure that it's, um, it's the after events. It's the follow on that's, um, really [00:29:30] important to her and her team. So she's got She's got four in her team at the moment. Youngest is 16. So what do you think? The biggest issues facing, um, in in, um, I Well, what I've heard from and her team is that a lot of it is about not being, um, seen not being seen and not being heard. Um, they're still feeling like they're kind of, you [00:30:00] know, on the outside of anything. Um, um, so, yeah, that's those are some pretty big issues in a place. A small town, like or a small space. Like, um, we are like I said before, we were already hit by a whole lot of, um, other dumb steps. Today you're here at the, uh, rainbow Pacifica, Uh, events in Wellington. Why is this [00:30:30] event important? Uh, so it's not just because, um I know Lela, and I know the work that she does, but I think for me is it's actually to support, Um um, to really allow again a space for rainbow to kind of, um to to them, um and to to man what? It is that important for them. [00:31:00] I think that's really important. And that's why we've come down to or I come down to. I was asking Geo, um, if you had a magic wand and you could wave it at anything or anyone, what would you waive it at first and why? That's a hard question. I'd want to um I suppose I'd want to, like, waver over every person or every ideal or idea or out there that, [00:31:30] um that kind of forgets, um, people who are marginalised or, um or just Yeah, and I would probably just go. Yeah, jump jump in everyone just so that it's a little bit more inclusive and a little bit more, um, culturally safe.
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