Sun 17 Aug 2008 In: Worth Checking Out View at Wayback View at NDHA
The next episode of Maori Television's LGBT programme Takataapui will be broadcast at 9:30pm on Monday 18 August: It's a hand-in-hand walk down the rainbow carpet-covered aisle for Claudette Hauiti and Nadine Mau as they celebrate their fabulous takataapui Civil Union. And it's the fusion of tikanga Maori with tikanga takataapui, politics takataapui and religion which is at the heart of this event, while the Drag Queens, rainbow imagery, choreographed wedding dance, waiata and all out flamboyant fizz fill out the celebration and complete the picture. "We're doing a civil union now because its there," explains Hauiti. "I'm not sure when we are going to get full legal recognition, but this is as good as it gets today so I'm going to take full advantage of it today. So many people have worked really hard to get it to this point. "Every couple that goes through a civil service is also celebrating the really hard efforts for those who have worked their asses off to come up to this point. And know that while it may not suit everyone… and while it may not be as legally binding as heterosexual weddings, it's good today." Claudette and Nadine met some challenges along the way; a church to which they were linked through whakapapa would not allow the Civil Union to be staged on their premises as they were still 'considering' whether such unions were appropriate with their mission. The couple employed a wedding planner to tie the many details together. The planner was experienced in organizing large weddings but had never worked with the gay community before. Canon Hone Kaa was unable to become a registered celebrant, so they had to bring in a Pakeha gay man to officiate over the ceremony. But these bumps all led to harmony as the details came together and a joyous occasion ensued. Takataapui is broadcast on Maori Television each Monday night at 9:30pm, then repeats on Freeview's Stratos channel at 10pm. Takataapui TV - 17th August 2008