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Good afternoon everybody. Welcome to S and M's this afternoon. I'm Malcolm Kennedy Vaughan and it's an honour and a privilege to be your MC for this afternoon's proceedings. A few things I'd like [00:10:30] to get out of the way. In case of an emergency, there's an emergency exit straight down the back down here. It's very unlikely, but just to let you know it's there. Okay, I'd like to say some thank you now and that's to Te Māori cultural group, Wellington City Council, Pride New Zealand, the Kusibutuku Memorial Trust. Um, for making this afternoon 100 percent extremely possible. I would also like to acknowledge, uh, His Worship the Mayor, uh, of Wellington, Andy Foster. We have the MP for [00:11:00] Central Wellington, the Right Honourable Grant Robinson. Uh, Glendy Hughes from the Greater, uh, Wellington Regional Council. And Simon Wetoko. Uh, we do have a message from Jürgen and Robin who are in Sydney and unfortunately can't be with us this afternoon, but we do have a message from them, which will be read later on. And of course, uh, from, uh, the officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Jackie Grant. Okay, they're going to be our speakers this afternoon. It's going to be a fabulous afternoon and, um, I think you've all been across the road and seen the seats [00:11:30] and, uh. They look fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Uh, there's flags up on the stage. If you have not signed the flags, could you please do so before you leave this afternoon. Right now I'd like to invite our first speaker up from the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Yes, it's you darling. Glenda Hughes and Simon Wutoko. I have to tell you that I thought it was only going to be Simon. [00:12:00] I thought I was here on his coattails. But look, thank you very, very much for asking me to speak, because I think as I look around me at the moment and I see my last 50 years in front of me, because it was 1970 when I met Chrissie, and um, she bequeathed me her brother reluctantly about 30 years later. So, [00:12:30] um. Chrissie, I, I, at that stage, some of you may know, I at that stage was a policewoman, and Chrissie was what I called the social worker. She looked after everybody. Didn't matter who they were, didn't matter where they came from, Chrissie looked after them. And, and just one little funny story that I thought was an absolute reflection of Chrissie, was I used to keep in touch with her, because I don't know whether you know, but we still live [00:13:00] on the corner of Vivian and Marion Streets, so we will be losing the seats. Um, and I walked up the row, I used to sometimes pop up about 2 o'clock in the morning, just to make sure that everything was peaceful and all the rest of it, and I walked up and I saw this. That the, uh, roller door was down on the front of the evergreen, which is very unusual at two o'clock in the morning. So I knocked on the door and I got in and I said, What's the problem? And she said, Oh Mr Barrymore's here, [00:13:30] and he's pretty drunk, and I didn't want the public to see, so I've pulled down the roller door. And about 15 minutes later, an extended, uh, Cadillac came past. Two people came rushing in. Picked up Barrymore, took him out, put him in the Cadillac, and drove off. And the next morning there was a story in the Sunday News about how he'd given up drinking. Laughter[00:14:00] So, basically, I don't want to hold your time. I'm very, thank you very much for inviting me. Um, I know this might sound unusual, but this has been my community for many, many years. And, um, You've looked after me, and I've tried to look after you, and Chrissie certainly looked after me. Um, and she did bequeath me a very special present, so I'll hand over to him. Thank you.[00:14:30] Yeah, I'm uh, Chrissie's brother, and the last of the siblings. So it's been a Pleasure and a blessing, I've been here. I'm a little short with words, but I play a lot, so if you'll just bear with me while I do this. Feel that. This is one of [00:15:00] the kind of piano we all have had in the past. Hey Hey Hey [00:15:30] Hey Hey Hey Um, Uh, Uh, Uh, [00:16:00] Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh, Oh, Like Uh Oh Um Uh [00:16:30] Way Through Next You Uh My Uh N tamam Uh Uh Next Um Uh My Uh My Uh Uh Um, uh, [00:17:00] Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh, Um, uh, [00:17:30] Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh,[00:18:00] [00:18:30] I'll do one more after this one here, also remember that, uh, my father taught us, as much as our cousins were. The difference is today.[00:19:00] Um, uh, Um, uh, Um, uh, Um, uh, Um, uh,[00:19:30] Um, uh, Um, uh, Um, uh, Um, uh, Um, Um,[00:20:00] [00:20:30] transcript. Um, uh, Um, [00:21:00] uh, Um, uh, Um, uh, Um, Uh, [00:21:30] Uh, Um, uh, Um, uh, Um, uh, Um, uh, [00:22:00] Yeah. Um, [00:22:30] Uh, Um, Uh, Um, Um, Um, [00:23:00] Um. Um.[00:23:30] Absolutely fantastic. Thank you, Simon. And thank you, Glenda. And I'm sure you have many more stories to tell about those nights around at the Evergreen. That's for sure. As I mentioned earlier on in the piece, uh, there's two of Carmen's executives that were living in Sydney, great dear friends of Carmen's, and that was Juergen Hoffman and Robin Warrier Hargraves. Unfortunately, they can't be with us this afternoon, but at this stage they have made a contribution, a contribution, sorry, and I'd like to invite their dearest friend, Virginia Lum, [00:24:00] to come and read, uh, their message. Virginia? Thank you very much. Uh, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou. I'm not very good at, uh, te reo or, uh, tikanga, but I'm doing my best. Uh, just a quick note before we get onto the serious stuff. I come over from Australia, and, uh, Sydney, and in, uh, February next year, Sydney's going to host World Pride. [00:24:30] Now Pride is everything in the whole queer community, right? And some people say, Sydney is the gay capital of the Southern Hemisphere. But to me, I look out here on what we're doing here today, and what the Council's doing, and Pride New Zealand's doing, and um, everything about the community and what the organisations are doing to support the community. far surpass anything that Sydney does. So, congratulate yourself.[00:25:00] Now on to the serious stuff. Now, Rob, I don't know whether you know Robin and Jürgen, but Robin is from Aotearoa, and Jürgen is from Germany, so I don't know what accents to read this in. I'll give it a go. Philip Sherry, anyone remember Philip Sherry? Here is the news. A note from Robin Waira and Jurgen Hoffman, Sydney. Unfortunately, we cannot [00:25:30] be in person to share with you the recognition being bestowed on these two individuals today. Thank you for the opportunity to share a few words on this special occasion. It is indeed a special occasion championed by Pride New Zealand and others to acknowledge two of the forerunners of our strong community. Whilst there are others, Carmen's and Chrissy's contribution are noteworthy for their respective efforts. [00:26:00] Both carried their voices to speak up for our community when others felt that they could not. And that's really important. Reflecting on our dear friend Carmen, she had no fear. was gracious in all her dealings, and never had a bad word about anyone. That's unlike me. Even when others took advantage, Carmen would take that in her stride. She was amazing. We're so grateful that Carmen's [00:26:30] legacy continues, and she'll be so proud of today's event. Thank you to the Mayor of Wellington, and supporters for making this a reality. It's those who sit. Lie and lean on. The park benches feel the resolve of these two individuals to give them the strength and courage to forge ahead. These two women are wahine toa. Ngā mihi. Thank you. [00:27:00] APPLAUSE Thank you Virginia, and please pass on our thanks to Robin and Jürgen also. It is now a great pleasure for me to invite His Worship the Mayor of Wellington up to say a few words. Thank you. Come on, big hand for the Mayor. Applause Kia ora mau. Um, Ena mana, ena reo, ena rangatira mā. Tēnā koutou te whānau. And it really does feel, it's a real honour to be able to be able to come into this room, [00:27:30] to this community. It feels like being part of a family gathering in some ways. Certainly what we've just heard from Sai, um, Glenda. Um, and it really does feel an honor and a privilege to be part of this, this gathering. Because I didn't know either Carmen or Chrissie personally. I'll say I was a bit young, a bit too young for that. Although, some people, some people might be, some people might be a bit different. I'm younger than I look. Anyway, look, I just want to start off by saying just thank you to everybody who's [00:28:00] helped to put this event together, to Gareth and Pride New Zealand. Um, awesome job, Scotty and Mel. Um, and in some ways you do, you carry on that legacy in many ways that, um, Carmen and Chrissy, um, you know, started. To providing a place that people can come to, a place that people can feel safe and it is their place. I mean, we should, people should be able to, whoever we have got in this, in this city, should be able to feel safe wherever they are in this city. Should be able to feel respected for who they are, wherever they [00:28:30] are. But sometimes it's really good to have a place that you know is a special place, and so Scotty and Mel, thank you. And it was, it was beautiful to be able to acknowledge, uh, you two as part of our Absolutely Positively Wellington Awards recently, and thank you for the beautiful words that, that you said there, um, uh, Mel in particular. Um, and just to all the friends and whanau of, of Chrissie and, and Carmen. Um, it's great to be with you and to grant, uh, acknowledge you as well. Um, fabulous to have you here and, and I know you're going to say a few words shortly. Uh, look, we're here to unveil plaques to, to celebrate the [00:29:00] lives of these two wahine toa. Um, and the contribution that they've made and I guess We often say that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before, the people who have blazed trails, and absolutely that is true of Chrissie and, uh, of Carman. They definitely blazed trails in the city. Um, not only did they run, um, some, uh, establishments that were, um, Well known around the, around the city. Um, Glenda, my notes, my notes say well known to the police, I don't know which role you had there. [00:29:30] You being the guardian angel or not. But actually, we were, we were having a conversation the other day about um, about uh, running um, uh, the um, What do you call it? Chemist job in the, in the, um, uh, in Ber Mall and no break-ins. And then, um, but, but having served the, uh, the trans, the trans community in particular and, uh, and the, some of the trans community then saying, look, you know, we are looking after this place and, you know, we're gonna make sure that the, the place is kept safe. So, you know, it's, there's a real sense of that community here in this, in this place. And they brought a lot of glamor, uh, [00:30:00] to what was a, a gray. public service city, completely unlike what we've got today, the, you know, the walk shorts and all that sort of thing. So they, they blazed a trail in that way. But they also blazed a trail, as I said, in that, in that providing a safe haven and a place to, to look after, uh, the LGBTQI plus, uh, community. And that is just so, so important. Um, I understand, um, Far too young at the time, But I understand that there was uhh, You know, there were maybe some of the alcohol, Regulations were breached at the time, Yeah but, but, but, but, but dodgy [00:30:30] that you know The late night cafes had a dash of alcohol in them, And maybe Grant that might be something We do need To have a look at the sale and supply of liquor act To make it just a little bit more flexible A little more genteel So there is a little hint But look, I, I think it's really really great To be able to have these two, Um, women, Uh celebrated in, uh, in the plaques that we have just around the corner there. Um, I'm a real fan of telling the stories of our city and of the people who have made our city what [00:31:00] it is. And there is absolutely no doubt that they have made a significant contribution to where we are. We have three, po, in our, uh, our city council strategy, and that sounds really boring. They're about sustainability. That's not boring at all, that's really important. They're about creativity, whether it's arts, culture, business, those sort of things. They're also about inclusivity. And those are the three things that I talk about all the time. It's so important that we are an inclusive city. And that story is a story about, uh, the inclusion of, um, of our community. And look, I [00:31:30] just wanted to, to mention just some of the things that, um, we've done. And, uh, and thank you, um, For the kind words at the beginning. Um, Some of the things that we've been doing over the last, uh, last little while, we've established the Takatapui Rainbow Advisory Council to provide a voice. It's not the only voice. It's not the only voice by any stretch uh, for the rainbow community. But it is an important formal voice, if you like, uh, in front of the council. We supported Queeret Council to ensure that our own rainbow staff are supported in the workplace. And we're also in the process of [00:32:00] setting up a dedicated Rainbow staff member to, um, to help support that, um, that advisory group. As I said, we've, we've given, uh, APW awards, Absolutely Positively Wellington awards recently to, um, uh, to Scotty and Mel. Uh, and last year we had one for Georgie Girl as well. Uh, amongst others. So we, you know, we want to recognise the members of our rainbow community. Uh, and then, um, one of the things we've been asked about is that we have a space for the rainbow community within the, the, the council's fabric of [00:32:30] facilities. And we are, I think this week, we will see Orange, uh, orange hard hats and vests, uh, in the Te Matapihi, our new library, and the construction work's starting to happen. And there will be a room in that building, uh, which is able to be used, not exclusively by any particular group, but be able to be used by any group, you know, being booked, whatever. It's a safe, quiet space that people can go, uh, and, and enjoy there. Um, and then, um, there's a bit from my speech notes, which is about the, the, the library. Just [00:33:00] don't expect a splash of brandy in your coffee at the library cafe, that is unlikely. And as I said, as I said Grant, if we can sort out the liquor licensing rules, then maybe we can get that one fixed. And look, I did want to mention one other thing which we've done in the last, uh, in the last three years, and that was when we had all the, the controversy around the births, deaths, marriages, and relationships bill, and we had Speak Up for Women, and it was very, very clear that, Quite rightly, people have the right to be able to speak and to say what they want to say. Although, when you've got the right, you've also got the responsibility to make sure you [00:33:30] exercise that in a way which doesn't hurt people or harm people. That's really, really important. And at that time we said, uh, and Councillor Fitzsimons, who's somewhere in the back over there, there she is. Um, and, uh, Councillor O'Neill, uh, and I said, look, we did some work together with Michael Algar, who's my Chief of Staff. Um, and we said look, we want to make sure that the trans community knows that their city, their council, is standing behind them. And so, while the Speak Up for Women were meeting inside the Michael Faller Centre, we were lighting it up [00:34:00] outside. And we had the trans flag, colours all over the building, and the community gathering together outside with the trans flag. And that was about saying, we are with you. And that's a really, really important message of inclusiveness. Uh, look, just, and just to finish off, um, I have to mention, given that I am in the latter stages of a mayoral campaign, Carmen, of course, um, had one of the highest profile mayoral campaigns I think we've probably ever seen, uh, in the city, uh, in 1977.[00:34:30] Uh, supported, I think, by the redoubtable Bob Jones as well. It's an interesting combination there. Um, and she stood for extending opening hours for bars. Lowing the drink age, legalising sex work, and she finished that high profile campaign. It says here in my notes in a respectable fourth. Fourth's not respectable. It's only first. It's the only one that works. But never mind. She, she, she certainly made her point. But in my 30 years of politics and seeing a whole lot of different, um, somewhat, sometimes more and sometimes less effective, uh, slogans, there is no doubt that hers [00:35:00] was unique. Anybody remember what it was? Get in behind! Yeah, absolutely. So look, the legacy left by both Carmen and Chrissy has been huge in looking after the LGBTQI plus community. I think all of those who, like Scotty and Mel, are involved in making sure that that legacy continues to this day. And look, it's a plarks which tell their story, remind us of them, and I think it's something which should be a source of pride.[00:35:30] But also, just telling our stories, who we are, and where we've come from. So congratulations everybody in making this day happen. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, koutou. Thank you, Andy, that was fantastic. And it's great to see that we do actually have a council 100%. We've got our rainbow crossing. We've got Carmen on the traffic lights, and now we've got these seats across the road to celebrate two amazing wahine toa [00:36:00] to, uh, that led us, that led us in our early days to show us where we are today. Um, fantastic. Thank you, Andy. My next guest is fantastic. She doesn't need no introduction whatsoever. She's an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Could you please welcome on stage the fabulous Jacob Grant. Kia ora whanau. It is my absolute honour. To have [00:36:30] been asked to speak here today and to give you some insight into two ladies that were and still are two of the most important people in my life and to tell you about life for the rainbow community in Wellington through the 60s and early 70s from my perspective. When I think about Chrissie and Carmen or Carmen and Chrissie I can't help but think, same but different. [00:37:00] I first met Carmen way back in 1958, in Sydney. She was already a showgirl, and I was a 14 year old wannabe. Right from the start, glamour was Carmen's thing. Being seen, being photographed, and she did that with spades. She knew she was beautiful, and she capitalized on it right to her last [00:37:30] days. And I was fortunate enough to do the eulogy at her funeral in Sydney. I seem to get this job of doing eulogies, I think. Um, It was because of Carmen that myself and two other queens Gina Lamour, and I guess there'll be some people here that will remember these names, and Natalie Parker came to New Zealand. And of course, another factor was, New Zealand was the only country one [00:38:00] could travel to without a passport in those days, and that was very fortuitous as the Sydney cops were chasing us. And we had to get here. I remember well, Carmen in Wellington, doing her drumming up business walks in the middle of the day up Cuba Street. She was like a stately galleon, loud, proud, hair up to the heavens, flowers in her hair, I've [00:38:30] actually still got two of those flowers at home, those artificial flowers, and wearing every colour of the rainbow. She always made a point of smiling and greeting everyone she passed and she had a unique ability of Remembering people's names. So she would greet people by name. It was quite incredible But you know, you'd be walking along and oh and how are you and and she'd say their name She may, she, as I said before, she was the [00:39:00] consummate showgirl and one of the best self promoters I have ever met. Carmen was her own agent. And wherever she went, she made sure the media were close by. I remember just before Chrissy's 60th birthday, I'd just arrived from the West Coast. Went and saw Chris, who told me Carmen had arrived, and she was in room 210, I think it was, at the St George Hotel. So I went up to say hello, [00:39:30] and found her on the telephone. She was talking to the local press and TV station. She had them on speed dial, telling, and she was telling them that Carmen was about to arrive at the airport to attend an important function. Next minute, didn't have any time for me. She was back in the limo that Chrissy had organized to pick her up from the airport a couple of hours before back in the Luma, I went back out to the [00:40:00] airport to meet. the paparazzi. Next minute, Chrissy's function sort of went by the by in the, in the Dominion. The next morning there was Carmen on the front page. Um, quite incredible. Carmen was very generous with her staff, always out at different restaurants, always paying the bill. Money wasn't particularly important to Carmen. It was all about the show. Always making sure her girls look glamorous. As that show went on [00:40:30] 24 7. One of my fondest memories of Wellington was Sunday nights. And we'd all go to the midnight movies at the Roxy Theatre in Manor Street. It was managed by Jeanette and Jack, Jack Groves, two early Wellington icons. Going right back to the early days, those. And the, the midnight movies in the Roxy Theatre showed horror films on a Sunday night at midnight. And those. [00:41:00] Horror films shown on a Sunday night were often interspersed by the large rat running across the upstairs balcony rail. We called it the flea, flea pit or something. Um, and then you'd hear the odd bang. And that'd be where someone had had a cockroach crawl over them and a quick stiletto sent the cockroach to heaven. Um, it was, it was a, it was a place, but we all went. Carmen's girls, Chrissie's girls, Sherelle's [00:41:30] girls, my girls, we all went there. When I say girls in those days, I say it very loosely, everyone was girl. Gay boys, lesbians, drag queens, trannies, everybody who wanted to be part of that scene. And we walked everywhere. We didn't have cars. And what a sight it must have been at 3. 30am, seeing all this cacophony of rainbow culture heading out of the Roxy. False eyelashes falling off, the odd broken high [00:42:00] heel, with the first stop always to the hot bread shop in Manus Street, who by that time of the morning had the tastiest treats for sale. Sometimes it was the only meal we had that day. Then up Cuba Street where everyone would start to disperse to their various flats and accommodation. In those days, we were a real community. We had each other's backs. When one was down, others were there to pick up the pieces. Something that [00:42:30] makes me sad today is to see how ready we are to tear each other down, rather than uffing all of our community. People like Carmen, Chrissie, and many others were the public face of the whole Rainbow community, out and proud, same but different. I met Chrissie. About 1963 64 after arriving in Wellington, and from that very first meeting we became firm friends for so many [00:43:00] years. One of my saddest days ever was being with Chrissie in Wellington Hospital. Along with Malcolm and, um, Daniel and quite a, quite a lot of us, um, when Chrissie passed away. And a testament to Chris was the amount of people who attended her tangi. There must have been way over a thousand people walked through that marae, um, over those three days. And, and probably closer to a couple of thousand. They came in [00:43:30] busloads. There were politicians. There were people from all walks of life, business people, there were gay people, there were trans people, but it was that wide reach that she had, um, in, in her dealings with people that she transcended a lot of things, and just very calmly and quietly went along. She was a tireless worker. And a really humble person. She once told me she did not care if she was washing dishes in someone [00:44:00] else's business for a living. It wasn't beneath her, as long as it was honest work. And what a wonderful quality to have. No sense of entitlement whatsoever. Chrissie never really sought the limelight. But nevertheless, over the years, the community came to recognise her dedication and substance. And today, you're in the Limelight Girl whether you want it or not. She loved her community and showed that love in so [00:44:30] many tangible ways. Whether it was a Tangi or some other fundraising event, Chris was there with her sleeves rolled up and ready to help. And we go right back to the early Alexis Kennedy days and every time there was something happened in the community, Chris was there. She was regal. Her presence was such that when she went out to a function or just on one of her, I need to be seen as [00:45:00] it reminds them that the evergreen is open, there was never ever any doubt when she walked into a club, a room or a bar. that the Queen had arrived. Even in the early days, when Chris worked out on the wharf in the kitchen, she drank at the bistro bar at the Royal Oak. We all drank at the bistro bar at the Royal Oak. She was the natural head of the table. And God help any hapless queen, seaman or hood that [00:45:30] got out of control near her. That look put terror in their hearts and I'm sure a lot of you know that look. Um, from being in the evergreen and playing up a little bit and you'd get that look and you'd shut up. And her right hook wasn't too bad either, the look failed. Chris was lucky. She had a very rare thing in our community. A very supportive family, and it's wonderful to see her brother Si and his partner Glenda here today. I [00:46:00] first met Glenda, here it comes, I first met Glenda when Chrissie ran the Sunset Strip. I well remember one night getting wind that the cops were around, so I quickly closed my bottle store, which was up in the back corner of heaven, and some of you older people will know the Sunset Strip, but it was divided into two parts, heaven and hell, and the rainbow side was heaven. How [00:46:30] was the rough trade side? The bottle store existed to supply whiskey to thirsty Japanese seamen and their companions. I headed out through the kitchen to stash my stock. There was a batch out the back where Chrissie lived with Aunty Rungu, my then partner's mother's sister, and later Anaru, the love of Chrissie's life. To get there, I had to go through the kitchen, [00:47:00] and sitting on the bench in the kitchen was this pair of long legs. Clad in thigh high leather boots, looking every bit like Emma Peel. In a bloody police uniform, talking to Chrissie, and it was our lovely Glenda Hughes. I nearly shit my pants. I could have sworn those whiskey bottles were making a racket in my bag. But out I went and [00:47:30] stashed the booze to sell another day. It was, of course, Wellington's most glamorous policewoman, Glenda Hughes, and I think she had lots of arguments about wearing those boots back in those days, didn't you? She never said a word, even though I'm sure she could hear those whiskey bottles clanking in my bag. Both Carmen and Chrissie were the same but different in their delivery of our message, that we were not to be feared or ridiculed. [00:48:00] Rather, we were to be admired and celebrated, each of us the same but different. Both of them, in their own way, did us proud, and we're true pioneers for the rainbow community. They both, in their own way, provided the trans part of the community with much needed stability and employment. So many girls gave up their consultancy businesses on Marion and Vivian Street to work for Chrissie and Carmen.[00:48:30] Both supplied safe spaces for the wider rainbow community, especially Chrissie at the Evergreen, which she ran for around 20 plus years. A remarkable run for a rainbow business catering to a nighttime crowd in Wellington. They are now icons to be celebrated. And to go down into our rainbow history and New Zealand's wider history. Can I hold your attention for just a few more minutes? [00:49:00] I would like to briefly touch on life in Wellington in those early days from my perspective. We've often heard how hard life was. How victimised we were, with police continually chasing us, police bashings, being thrown in jail, and the venom of the wider community. I can tell you, as a community, We had a reasonably good relationship with police. It was not illegal to be in drag [00:49:30] in New Zealand. We have Carmen to thank for that, but that is another story. On the whole, the police were actually good to the girls in those early days, and often turned a blind eye to club owners who were pushing liquor laws to the nth degree. Police were hardly ever a problem to the girls on Marion and Vivian Street, in my opinion. It wasn't the police who were our enemies, it was a judgmental public and the culture of the [00:50:00] politics of the day. And like David and Goliath, we squished them good. Recently an old friend was waxing on about how terrible the police in Wellington were, how they were always chasing us, bashing us and targeting us because of our gender or sexuality. What she said was not actually the reason for police actions in our community. But rather, I reminded her, in those days she was up in Home Street, hanging out a window with a needle in [00:50:30] one arm and selling drugs to anyone who called by with the other. I reminded her that care needs to be taken, not to be revisionary about our history with Wellington Police. Especially when making those sorts of statements while our history is being recorded. Particularly given the actual context. of police actions were, more often than not, as a direct result of criminal activity in our community, [00:51:00] unrelated to gender or sexuality. I'm not saying it was all beer and skittles by any means, but given we were the identical face of the rainbow community, it could have been a lot worse. A lot of thanks must go to our icons Chrissie and Carmen. Who are being honoured today as representatives of our wider Rainbow community. They provided hope and they showed by example that anything was possible for our community. [00:51:30] And look at us now. We've had the first Rainbow Mayor, Georgina Beyer. First out Rainbow Member of Parliament was Chris Carter. Quite a long, many years ago now. Followed by many other Rainbow MPs. All showing us anything is possible. Now, thanks to those people who put their necks on the line, we have the change. Back in our day, if you were in drag, things were different. No one would employ you. And [00:52:00] opportunities were limited to being self employed consultants, nightclub owners, showgirls, etc. Thanks to people like Chrissie and Carmen, we can now be whoever we want to be, same but different. And just, just to conclude I'm going to give this to Malcolm to put on the counter. If anyone would like a spray, this was Chrissie's favourite perfume, White Diamonds. Everywhere she went, she left a trail of white diamond smell behind her. So there's a bottle of White Diamonds [00:52:30] to put on the counter and anybody who wants to give it a squirt. Go for it. Thank you. You know, it's true, Chrissie was a very caring person, an amazing person. She looked after every one of us. And, um, she was also very staunch at times. I remember, um, very briefly, I was working for the Dominion Tavern with Larry and Janelle Phillips, which is now where Maure Wilson stands. It was the old [00:53:00] Dominion Tavern Hotel. And I was doing the lunchtime shift and the phone rings and I pick it up and it's Chrissie. Hello darling. She said, is that you Mel? I said, yes it is. Oh, it's me, darling. It's Chrissie. Is Anaru down there? And I mean, yes he is, yes he's here love. She said, oh don't tell him. She said, I'm going to pop down and have a drink with him. She said, don't tell him I called. I said, okay, sure enough. She stormed in that fucking door. I told you not to ring the baby to the pub! She [00:53:30] switched off with Nicholas and Anaru. Out the door. She went . Um, I don't think I ever saw Andrew back in the pub again, for a long time. Well, an excuse speaker this afternoon is a man who wears many, many hats. He is the MP for Wellington Central. He's the Minister of Finance and the Deputy Prime Minister. Could you please welcome on stage Our best friends, grant Robinson.[00:54:00] Uh, and the mana, and the reo, and the whānau, and the hoe whā. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Uh, The thing you really want late on a Saturday afternoon is a speech from a politician, isn't it? So, I'll do my best to keep it very short, and actually the words that have already been spoken today have been truly beautiful and I don't have a lot to add, to be honest. Uh, I arrived [00:54:30] in Wellington in, well I first started coming to Wellington as an out, gay man in the early 90s and I came to live here in the mid 90s. And the Evergreen was a place I went. The toasted sandwiches really weren't as good as everybody said they were. That was just the excuse everybody gave to go to the Evergreen. But even for me in those early days, um, it was, it was a place of refuge. And I got to know Chrissy a little bit after that. And, um, had so much admiration for her and [00:55:00] for Carmen as well, and I'm so delighted that today we are able to celebrate, uh, them, their contribution, and the contribution of the people they helped build up. And Jackie, you, you hit the nail on the head. I often think about the fact that I get to be the Deputy Prime Minister. As a gay man, you know, I mean, that, that comes, that comes from the people who went before who, who blazed trails across our [00:55:30] communities. And there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Carmen and Chrissy, I, I thought about Carmen's campaign slogan for me in Wellington, central and might, might not get me up above fourth place. Uh, Andy, uh. When I first came to Wellington, actually the places I frequented were all the ones that Mel was tending bar at. And you know, Mel was standing on the, on the table at Casper's or at the, at the Oaks, um, screaming to tell everyone to shut up well before someone [00:56:00] came on. And, and for me, I grew up down in Dunedin and in a, you know. Traditional Presbyterian family upbringing in Dunedin didn't have much of a gay scene. And I guess what I've reflected on coming there and what I've heard today is about that sense of place and sense of belonging. And that's what I think, I think of when I think of Carmen and Chris in Wellington. That sense of it being a place where you would be welcomed. Where [00:56:30] you'd be celebrated for who you were. Where you'd be told off when you stepped out of line, but you were loved for who you were. And a few years ago, and apologies to those in the room who've heard me talk about this before, I was asked to do a speech about my vision for Wellington, and I was Googling around on the internet trying to find the right words, and I came across a speech by a woman, um, in America, her name is Marina Keegan, if you ever want to look her up, and she talked about the fact that in our English [00:57:00] language, we don't have a word, a single word, for the opposite of loneliness. And I said that I wanted Wellington to be the opposite of loneliness. Where everybody feels included and accepted and welcomed and celebrated. And we don't get it right every day or every month or every year, but overall we get it right more often. than other places do. And I think that's what Carmen and [00:57:30] Chrissie created. Was the sense of a place to belong and to be that could be the opposite of loneliness. And if I can just be political for one moment before I finish. Never, ever think the job is done, because we live in an era where we see more anger and hatred and discrimination arising. And as communities [00:58:00] represented here today, it's our job to stop that. It's our job to do as Jackie said, same but different, bring us all together, recognise who we are. Celebrate Takatāpui. Celebrate who we are here. Because only by doing that and sticking together will we put those forces of bigotry and discrimination back down where they belong. So I want to say Ngā mihi nui ki a kōrou. Thank you to these two, [00:58:30] to Carmen and Chrissie, for helping create the world in which we can all be who we are, we can celebrate one another, we can protect one another, and that we can continue to make this city and this place the opposite of loneliness. Kia ora koutou. Oh, thank you Grant. And I've, uh, just on that note where you were saying it's so proud to be a gay man and to be the Deputy Prime Minister. You know, every time your husband [00:59:00] Elf comes in here I keep on telling him, you know, one day you are going to be the First Lady. One day I'll ring you up and do exactly what Anaru did as well. We want to come to the opening party of the big house, okay? Well, look, uh, that concludes our part of the speeches for this afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. So I'd like to kindly ask you now to proceed upstairs and, uh, safely cross the road. We will continue this afternoon's events and the unveiling. Of these magnificent seats.[00:59:30] Thank you.[01:00:00] Tērā puritia, tērā puritia iho Nui [01:00:30] rā wā te aroha e te hokinga mai Te hokinga mai, tēnā koutou Tangi ana tēnā kau i te aroha[01:01:00] [01:01:30] [01:02:00] [01:02:30] Mō tātou Katoa Te hokinga mai Te hokinga mai [01:03:00] Tūtanga tātou A tēnā tātou! Kimi hea rapu hea whaea ki te uru tapu nui o tāne, tāne te wai ora, tāne te wānaka, tāne te tokoraki, puta ki te whaea o ki te ao māranga.[01:03:30] Come now, please, and unveil the seats. [01:04:00] Carmen Ruka, 1936 to 2011. It is your ancestors that give you the strength to survive [01:04:30] today. And let the shadows fall behind you. Chris Iwetoko, 1944 2002 Ngāti Kahungunu, Erewhiti, Whakatāpū Tēnā kōrua Tūi, [01:05:00] tūi, tūtuia! Tuia te hihiri tapu o i o te raki no te kahu o te auraki, ko okiri te ara aki te araraki, ka whakaputaina te mai o haa o tawhirimatea, me hoki te irawhiti takatapui i roto i enei turu, hei noho mo ake tonu atu tuturu mai kia whakamaua, kia tina![01:05:30] [01:06:00] Well, fantastic. And, uh, these seats are here to remind us on a daily basis just how far we've come and, uh. To paraphrase a well known speech throughout the world. This is one giant step for trans and one super super leap for trans kind Thank you all for being here this afternoon that finishes our formal opening of the benches and you're more than [01:06:30] warmly welcome to join us back at S and M's have a couple of drinks and Swap some fabulous stories. Thank you all for being here. And thank you for the mayor. And where is he the fabulous Grant Robinson Over here, all our guest speakers, fantastic job. Thank you all very much.
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