Gareth Watkins and Roger Smith - Chrissy Witoko and Carmen Rupe memorial seats

In 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.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Gareth Watkins Roger Smith

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