Around 400 friends and whanau have attended a tangi for 'Mama' Tere Strickland, with her complex and at times confrontational nature being acknowledged. One of Auckland's most visible and controversial transgender women, Strickland was farewelled in the meeting house Te Waiariki on Whaiora Marae after dying suddenly on Friday. The tangi included elements of numerous cultures, sexualities and religions. "We are here to celebrate our brother, sister and Aunty," said Strickland's brother in law, Bishop Nigel Ngatuakana, who had earlier in the service had to be encouraged to use Strickland's female name instead of her male birth name. He said Strickland had hard and soft sides, that she was both passionate and compassionate. "She cared for the sick, the needy and the homeless," said Ngatuakana, "she was truly an angel." Strickland's mother leaves the meeting house Her close friend Aunty Ra was more blunt, telling the gathering "she either touched your life or she traumatised you." She noted that Strickland had grown up amongst elders who believed that "a man is a man and a woman is a woman and there is nothing else." Strickland had confronted this narrow view in no uncertain terms. Paying tribute to Strickland's softer and more caring side, Aunty Ra said "she could be funny, she was an icon, she put a lot of time and energy and sweat and tears into the takapaatui community." Strickland had helped Aunty Ra care for her dying mother during an extended period of illness. Strickland's elderly mother travelled from Tahiti for the tangi and messages from transgender groups in the Pacific Islands were read out. She was "a hero" who was not afraid to speak her mind and to challenge, "she fought hard" for her Pacific sisters, the Pacific Diversity Network said. Last night a large gathering of takataapui and transgender folk kept vigil with Strickland's body at the marae. Her open coffin was placed on tapa cloth and fine mats, she was covered in a Maori cloak and surrounded by Pacific finery, photos and some of her extravagant hats.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 7th August 2012 - 1:38pm