Difficulties surrounding the use of unauthorised material derailed the weekend's official launch of the much-awaited Takatāpui book, which may now have to be withdrawn. The creation of Takatāpui, which was was produced by an independent publisher, was overseen by the NZ AIDS Foundation as part of its ongoing support for the bi-yearly Hui Takataapui, the latest of which was held at an Auckland marae over the weekend. It was also timed to mark thirty years of Hui Takatāpui, a significant force in encouraging self-awareness, support and education for takatāpui people, their whanau and iwi. Mention was made at the weekend hui of the book having encountered difficulties and the planned formal launch was instead re-shaped into a 'celebration'. "The board of the Foundation received a complaint from one of the contributors," NZAF Executive Director Jason Myers has this morning confirmed. "It was requested that the book not be launched without the matter being fully investigated." He says delaying the launch was a "difficult decision" and the board, of which two members met with the complainant on Friday, will be meeting as soon as possible to address the matter. "There are a number of processes and parallel investigations under way," he says Myers says it would be inappropriate for him to confirm the identity of the complainant or go into any details of the matters at issue. Takatāpui has already been distributed in some quarters including to number of bookshops and it is understood complimentary copies may also now be in circulation. "The board will have to try to see if the book is salvageable," Meyers says," adding "We hope that is possible. We'll be working with the publisher and the complainant... we're not sure how it will pan out."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 21st November 2016 - 10:21am