Fri 17 Nov 2006 In: Hall of Fame View at Wayback View at NDHA
Rhys Hakkens Rhys, 29, owns Wellington's newest and busiest gay club. He's newly single… and wouldn't mind meeting Prince William. How's iMerst going? Good, actually. We've been open three weeks now, and we haven't had a drop-off in the number of people coming along on a Saturday night. We have a theme each week, which keeps people interested, I think. We had our grand opening night, then our Commando theme party, and then last weekend we had a Hollywood theme. This weekend the theme is 'looking after yourself', with a whole lot of L'Oreal products to give out, and body painting. Next weekend we've got a surf life-saving club coming to do a gig - getting their gear off for us all - for our mutual pleasure! I own iMerst and do the marketing for it - but my primary job is I own and run an advertising agency, doing marketing, web design, graphics and printing. So when I'm at iMerst I'm not running things, I'm really just another patron that goes along and has a great time. I love playing pool and socialising there. What's your relationship status? I've just come out of a relationship of almost six years. But all is not lost - we're still really good friends and he works for me, so I still see him during nine-to-five hours. Where were you born and raised? I was born on the Kapiti Coast, in Paraparaumu. I grew up in Waikanae, and also spent some time in Wanganui Collegiate boarding School. When did you come out? I actually came out to my family while we were all on holiday in Australia. I used to get purposefully lost on the beach - and one day made my way to one of the nude beaches in Sydney. That day I didn't return to my family until very late, so I felt I needed to explain myself! I was 18. What do you think is the most pressing issue facing LGBT New Zealanders? I've been thinking a lot about this question and I think it's without a doubt issues around being in a couple. Whether people see a same-sex relationship as being 'long-term'. I think a lot of LGBT people don't treat their relationships with the same respect straight people do. There's a lot of sleeping around, even in my bar, one minute a person's with someone, the next they're with someone else. It's just my opinion, but I think if we looked at that issue, our credibility in the wider community would increase. I think people should try to find their 'soul-mate', and when they have found them, try to make some kind of commitment towards them. Favourite food and drink? I really love salmon, and at the moment I'm really enjoying the iMerst cocktail, which has been dreamt up by our barman. It's similar to a Sea-Breeze - with 42BELOW vodka in it and a range of fruity flavours. Your worst habit? Definitely leaving the tops off jars and things. My ex-partner was always going around tidying up after me with that. If you had one wish, what would it be? To be really honest, I wish I had a brother. I've got four sisters. Favourite telly? Dragon's Den and CSI: Miami. Favourite movies? Fried Green Tomatoes. I used to love Jessica Tandy, she's dead now, but she was a lovely old lady. I've seen that movie loads of times and even own a copy. It's very emotional. What do you do to relax? I've got this arrangement with me and my hand. My hand never talks back to me! And I need to put a plug in for Bio-Oil - it's a new oil you can get from the chemist, and it's fantastic. It comes in different sized bottles but I always get the big one. Who in the world (or NZ) would you most like to have coffee and a chat with? Bill Clinton, because I think with him at the helm I don't think the war would have gone ahead - or it would have gone ahead in a different way. And the other person is obviously Prince William. I'd go there! Matt Akersten - 17th November 2006