A sensitively-produced episode of Maori Television's LGBT programme Takataapui has been named joint winner of the Premier TV/Film Award at the annual Media Peace Awards ceremony. In Auckland on Thursday evening, the New Zealand Media Peace Awards recognised media professionals and students who judges felt actively contributed towards reducing conflict, addressing differences and counteracting prejudices in our society and in the wider world. Takataapui's winning entry focused on Hate Crimes and detailed the unsolved murder of Stanley Waipouri apparently bashed to death because of his homosexuality. The programme dealt with the subsequent grief and anger felt by Waipouri's whanau as they battled to get their brother and friend's death further investigated by police. Waipouri's trail begins this month in Palmerston North. The programme's Executive Producer Claudette Hauiti says, "Communities need to work through conflict in order to find common ground. It's surprising how similar seemingly opposing groups' goals and aspirations are once issues and agenda are allowed to be voiced and worked through." Takataapui is the world's first indigenous gay, lesbian and transgender television series. Several of 2007's episodes set out to explore hard-hitting issues such as the safety of takataapui people in jail and young transgender person living rough on city streets. A sixth series is now in production, to be broadcast in early 2008.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 10th November 2007 - 11:02am