Production Details: 000908_MIX_chrissy_and_carmen_seats_interview.wav

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irn3520
master_filename000908_MIX_chrissy_and_carmen_seats_interview.wav
master_md517FB18702168D7AA4DA744B032072967
master_duration29:44
master_sample_rate44.1 kHz
master_bit_depth16 bit
master_channels1
media_reference000908
media_sourcePrideNZ.com
copyright_positionIn copyright
copyright_ownershipGareth Watkins (PrideNZ.com)
copyright_ownership_note
submitted_to_nlnz30-09-2022
public_urlhttps://www.pridenz.com/gareth_watkins_roger_smith_chrissy_witoko_carmen_rupe_memorial_seats.html
meta_urlhttps://www.pridenz.com/data/media/meta/3520.html
plain_text_urlhttps://www.pridenz.com/plaintext/gareth_watkins_roger_smith_chrissy_witoko_carmen_rupe_memorial_seats.txt
production_date17-09-2022
production_day17
production_month09
production_year2022
recording_typeInterview
seriesChrissy Witoko and Carmen Rupe memorial seats
sub_series
titleGareth Watkins and Roger Smith - Chrissy Witoko and Carmen Rupe memorial seats
descriptionKaren Harris from QUILTED BANANAS talks to Gareth and Roger about the background to the Chrissy Witoko and Carmen Rupe memorial seats. The seats will be unveiled on the 1 October 2022 and are located on the corner of Cuba and Vivian Streets, Wellington.
summary_computer_generatedIn a recent podcast hosted by Quilted Bananas and conducted by Karen Harris, guests Gareth Watkins and Roger Smith discussed the memorial seats dedicated to Chrissy Witoko and Carmen Rupe. Both guests, influential in the documentation and celebration of Takatapui rainbow history, shared their insights on the event and the memory of these leading figures in the Wellington LGBTQ+ community. Gareth Watkins, a Wellington native and founder of PrideNZ, has focused on capturing LGBTQ+ community history since the 1990s. Roger Smith, originally from Dunedin and now residing in Wellington, is Gareth's partner in life and in work, particularly in Walktours NZ, a company that conducts rainbow walk tours around Wellington city. The interview celebrated the unveiling of two public seats with plaques for Chrissie Witoko and Carmen Rupe. This initiative was intended to memorialize their outstanding contributions to the community. The seats are strategically placed at the intersection of Cuba and Vivian Streets in Wellington, a location central to both Witoko and Rupe's lives. Chrissie Witoko was remembered for managing the Evergreen Cafe, while Carmen Rupe was recognized for their multiple business ventures, including cafes and entertainment spaces, which served as inclusive areas for the rainbow community. The idea for the memorial seats emerged organically from a series of inspirational events paying tribute to Witoko and Rupe. With an initial hope for a single plaque, Gareth and Roger reached out to the Wellington City Council and received an overwhelming response. The mayor endorsed the concept and the council proposed the installation of two seats, exceeding the original expectations of just one plaque. The unveiling ceremony was scheduled for October 1, 2022, during Mental Health Awareness Week, an apt occasion given the link between community support and mental well-being. The ceremony involved speeches from key figures, including the mayor, members of parliament, and relatives of the late Witoko and Rupe. Additionally, it featured the participation of Chrissie's brother, Sai Witoko, and Carmen's executors from Sydney. The interview also highlighted the significance of the memorial to contemporary Takatapui rainbow communities, not only as a tribute to Chrissy and Carmen but also as a symbol of the community's ongoing narrative. The plaques are designed to be affirmative, with Witoko's featuring a proverb highlighting optimism and Rupe's embodying the strength derived from ancestors. Pride NZ, the organization led by Gareth and Roger, has played an integral role in archiving and sharing New Zealand's Pride history through audio recordings and interviews. Their platform preserves important voices and moments in LGBT+ history, serving as a valuable resource for community members and researchers alike.
interviewerKaren Harris
voicesGareth Watkins; Roger Smith
tagsIrawhiti Takatāpui; queen; takatāpui; transgender; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 2020s; abortion; blessing; cafe; equality; homosexual law reform; Intersex Inclusive Progress Pride Flag; marriage equality; mayor; Mayor of Wellington; memorial; seat; walk tour; whakatauki; Broadcasting House; Carmen's traffic light; Evergreen Coffee House; Rainbow Crossing (Wellington); Rainbow Precinct; Scotty and Mal's Cocktail Bar; facebook.com; pridenz.com; Aotearoa New Zealand; Cuba Street; Hastings; Taumarunui; Vivian Street; Wellington; Chrissy Witoko Memorial Trust; Gender Minorities Aotearoa (GMA); Ministry for Culture and Heritage; New Zealand Portrait Gallery; QUILTED BANANAS (Wellington Access Radio); Tīwhanawhana; Walktours NZ; Wellington City Council; Poutokomanawa: The Carmen Rupe Generation (exhibition, 2019); Mental Health Awareness Week; Rally for Marriage Equality; Andy Foster; Carmen Rupe; Celia Wade-Brown; Chanel Hati; Chrissy Witoko; Fran Wilde; Glenda Hughes; Grant Robertson; Helen Kelly; Jacquie Grant; Jurgen Hoffman; Justin Lester; Karen Harris; Leilani Sio; Louisa Wall; Malcolm Kennedy-Vaughan; Mark Blumskey; Michael Fowler; Renee Paul; Robin Waerea; Scott Kennedy; Tāmati Coffey; Taupuruariki Brightwell
tags_computer_generatedlesbian; gay; organisation; employment; hospitality; radio; sex; health; mental health; history; Homosexual Law Reform; 1950s; Dunedin; 1990s; law; venues; Roger Smith; support; library; writing; marriage; Sydney; friends; West Coast; community; Marriage Equality; Coming Up; respect; alcohol; funding; trust; love; queer; leadership; council; homosexual; culture; gender; ancestors; passing; rainbow; safety; Stuff; fun; running; opportunity; ties; power; trans; reconnect; public transport; life force; safe space; top; clubs; museums; heritage; exhibition; attack; voice; other; abortion law reform; flags; email; actions; connect; gallery; massage; broadcasting; strength; future; transport; work; safety plan; website; face; plan; emotional; Job; encouragement; coffee; inspiration; Space; touch; People; Events; Cuba; board; knowledge; harbour; time; Wellington Museum; Museums Wellington
location_nameWellington
locationWellington
broader_locationAotearoa New Zealand
location_lat-41.300423865822886
location_long174.78013410486557
precise_localityfalse