The title of this recording is "Wiremu Demchick". It is described as: Wiremu Demchick talks to Simon Mercep about the petition to get historic convictions for consexual homosexual activity wiped from criminal records. It was recorded in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand on the 2nd February 2015. Wiremu Demchick is being interviewed by Simon Mercep.  Their names are spelt correctly but may appear incorrectly spelt later in the document. A list of correctly spelt content keywords and tags can be found at the end of this document. A brief description of the recording is: Wiremu Demchick talks to Simon Mercep about the petition to get historic convictions for consexual homosexual activity wiped from criminal records. The content in the recording covers the 2010s decade. A brief summary of the recording is: This professional summary delineates the primary content of an audio recording between Wiremu Demchick and interviewer Simon Mercep. The interview, conducted in Wellington, New Zealand, focuses on Demchick's initiative to petition for the expungement of historic convictions for consensual homosexual activities from criminal records. The discussion opens with context, referencing the case of Alan Turing, a British mathematician who was posthumously pardoned after being convicted for homosexual acts. Turing's story has gained renewed attention due to the film "The Imitation Game," spurring activism to address similar historical injustices. Demchick began the petition in late November, aiming to collect 3,000 signatures to demonstrate public support to the government for addressing this issue. Despite the challenging timing of initiating this action during the holiday season, the petition is gradually gathering momentum, and around 300 signatures had been collected at the time of the interview. The conversation sheds light on the broader implications of such convictions. Demchick details that while exact numbers are hard to pinpoint, there are potentially over a thousand individuals in New Zealand with historical convictions for consensual same-sex interactions. Clarified is that the petition strictly focuses on consensual acts among adults, as unrelated offenses involving minors should remain on the books. Demchick expresses that many people living with such convictions might find them a burdensome remembrance, despite a possibility that the Clean Slate act could mitigate the practical consequences of such records. The petition also symbolizes broader support for the LGBTQ+ community, potentially reducing stigma. The personal significance of this campaign for Demchick is highlighted, emphasizing empathy for friends within the LGBTQ+ community and the shock at learning about these outdated convictions remaining on record. Demchick urges those interested in the petition to visit their website to download and collect signatures, with contact details also provided. Government response to the initiative is also under discussion. Demchick has engaged in cross-party communications without definitive government feedback. However, Green Party MP Kevin Haig's involvement indicates some political interest in addressing the issue. Plans for presenting the petition to Parliament are scheduled for early March, aligning with the anniversary of the introduction of the bill to repeal crimes of homosexuality thirty years prior. To conclude, the conversation between Wiremu Demchick and Simon Mercep revolves around the pressing matter of expunging historical convictions for homosexual activity. It portrays the motivations behind the petition, the traction it is gaining, and the path forward for bringing this social justice initiative to the legislative forefront. The full transcription of the recording begins:  Last week. Uh, you may recall, I spoke to Professor Andrew Hodges about his book on British mathematician Alan Turing, who played a large part critical part in cracking the German's enigma code during the Second World War. The book was the basis for the Oscar nominated movie The Imitation Game Imitation Game. Now you may recall that after the war now, this was the story we heard last week. Alan Turing, who was gay, was convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to chemical castration. Turing committed suicide a couple of years after that. That was in 1954. Now the films prompted calls in Britain for the government there to pardon tens of thousands of men who were prosecuted for having gay sex here. Sex between men was illegal until 1986 punishable by up to seven years in prison. And now a Wellington based man started a petition to have historic sex convictions wiped from gay New Zealanders records. He's Demy. He's with us in the Wellington studio wire. Good afternoon. Hi. Good afternoon to you. Thank you for coming on to the programme today. Well, tell me First of all, how are you getting on with your efforts to raise, uh, signatures for the petition. Well, the petition is gaining momentum. It's been very, um, it's been very encouraging to see that I I we We still have a long way to go to my goal, but I'm very confident we can get there. And I've had some great conversations with people so far. How many signatures are you aiming for? I'm going for 3000. Now, that's a sort of informal goal that I set myself. But it's, uh I think it's a It would be a good sign to the government that this is something New Zealanders care about. How long you haven't been going very long yet. Have you just started, haven't you? Yeah, I started, uh, late November. So it was perhaps not the best time to start a petition in certain ways. I mean, starting with, you know, sort of during the holiday season. Um, but it seemed like the right time to start anyways, because of what was happening. Well, this movie may help, um give you some momentum. I think so. Uh, now, of course, uh, New Zealand has has its own unique story around around this whole issue. But I, I think people have, uh, the The movie has captured people's imaginations in a in a way that's been quite helpful. So roughly, how many signatures do you have now? Would you say it? It's a little hard for me to say for sure, because a lot of them are being held by other people. Currently, they haven't made it to me yet. But I, I think we've gotten probably around 300 OK, now in Britain, as I mentioned, I think where there are tens of thousands, I think even close to 50,000 people who whose previous convictions are are being sought to be wiped out. Any idea what the numbers might be here? It would certainly be several 100 possibly, um, over 1000. It's a little hard to completely know because some of the, uh, there's a bit of challenge around getting accurate counts of exactly which convictions we would want to. Um, we would want to have pardons. So I mean, there are certain convictions that, um are sort of filed under the same things, for example, that we were not seeking to have, uh, pardoned. So So it's a little hard to get exact numbers, but I, I think we would be looking at definitely several 100. And what, basically, then what is the type of conviction that you would want to be? Um, have it expunged? Well, it it is the consensual homosexual act. I mean, we we there's, um there's been on the books and there still is on the books, as there should be, um uh, crimes, uh, with having homosexual acts or any sexual acts with, um minors. So that would still be on the book. And we would definitely not want to call for that to be pardoned. So it's it's about it's about consensual relationships. And given that this is as as we're discussing, it's a historic issue here. To what extent do you think there will be gay New Zealanders these days for whom these convictions have proved a major burden in their lives? Well, that's that's a complicated question, I think. Um, certainly there's the There's the there's the hundreds of people who were actually convicted, um, and and because this is 30 years on from those from the from the last of those convictions, we therefore have a situation where you know there's with every year. There's less people essentially, who who, Um who are still living who have these convictions. But there's still certainly, I mean, I think there's, I can say with pretty good certainty. We're definitely looking at several 100 who still are living now. Um, they I'm not. I've heard mixed things about this I. I know that. I've heard from some people that people who got those sorts of convictions can get them wiped off using the Clean Slate act. That's not a pardon. Of course. That's just that they don't have to declare them for certain jobs. Um, so it's It's hard to say, like I don't I'm not sure that there's a huge practical problem in terms of ensuring in terms of, you know, day to day prejudice. But I think it it would be very it would be an overbearing remembrance for the for these men. And then, of course, there's the broader LGBT community who, uh, I think still suffers from a degree of stigma, and this, I think, would help with that as well. Just to be absolutely clear on this, Are we only talking about men? Yes, we are. And And the reason that is is, um because the the laws on the books were for men and men with men relationships there were I. I I'm not an expert on the history. My understanding is that, uh, those who, for example, were lesbian or perhaps in the trans community, um, were, you know, subject to perhaps even criminal prosecution. But I think that issue is a little bit more complicated because I I'm not aware of any laws on the books that specifically forbid those sorts of relationships. And as you've been doing your work on this petition, have you been hearing stories from some men who have had convictions? I wonder what sort of tale that going to name I identifying people. But generally, what sort of stories have you been hearing? Well, I, I should say, firstly, I actually haven't had as much contact. In fact, I've had zero contact with people who have actually had convictions. I am very much, um, looking for people because I think they can tell the story better than I can. Um, but I But I have spoken to many people who are, um in the LGBT community. There was there was one person who always sticks in my mind with this issue who I talked to and I. I think he's He's probably around 65 or 70 now and he was never convicted. But he had to hide his identity because of the legislation. And that was, um, I. I think you could tell he had forgiven society, but it was it was a real It was a real trial for him. So the fact you haven't spoken to these people, I'm wondering, I'm just thinking, you know, you might think odd that suggests it doesn't mean so much to them. Or does it also perhaps suggest that it's something people of that generation they would not openly want to talk about? Uh, this matter of their personal history? Yeah, I mean, I. I suspect that's a large portion of it. Of course, since I haven't met them, I can't say for certainty why, Um, but I that seems to I mean, there's both. It's not since there are probably, um, we're looking in the order of a few 100 people who are convicted. And then there's the fact that it, you know, people have died through the years And then there's also the fact that the stigma I think those are all important factors in in, um, you know, and and I I'm hoping that this, um, petition will will, um, allow them to consider coming out and talking about their, uh, life. What? Um, sort of, uh, communication, if any. Have you had from the government about their attitude to this? So I've been in contact with a number of, uh, MP S, Uh, and and And that is a cross party at the moment. Um, I I've been in probably closest communication with Kevin Hagg. Kevin Haig. Um, is is the green Party MP who is, um, is I understand has been working closely with the government on this matter. And, um, it seems like the government, uh, the national government is quite interested in in this, uh, process, but I haven't spoken to them yet. Well, I mean, we we are now. And in New Zealand, in recent times, we're used to our political leaders, uh, every year that for a few years now they've gone along to events like the big gay out in, uh, in in Auckland. Uh, there's a a more relaxed association with all members of the of the community. Would should that mean that you should be successful? Oh, I, I think so. I mean, I, I think the the LGBT community will obviously be behind this petition. And I and, um there there is a quite close relationship with, I think, many members of Parliament, So yes, I, I think that will help. Why were you so interested in getting involved in this campaign? Well, many things, Uh, when I first found out that there were still convictions on the books for these men, that was quite shocking to me, and, um, I wanted to do something about it. But I, I also I have many friends who are who are members of the LGBT community. And I've had, you know, that's that. That is a big push for me, because II, I feel like I'm I'm doing this for for them as well. Ok, look, thank you very much. Uh, it'd be interesting. Oh, that's a very important question. Uh, if someone wants to get in touch with you, maybe, uh, wants to sign the petition or at least find out more about it. How do they do that probably the best way to do it is to visit the website. Um, so there's dot NZ, um, and And people can go there, and it's a paper based petition. So this is is a little bit more challenging to get signatures. But people can go on there and they can download the PDF and get people to sign and then send it to me. And my contact details are there as well dot co dot NZ Did you say dot NZ dot NZ dot NZ? That's correct. Uh, how long do you think you'll keep it running for? Well, we're we're looking to, um, present the petition to Parliament, um, in early march, actually. And that and that's because, um, in, uh, on march 8th, 1985 the bill to repeal, uh, crimes of homosexuality, uh, was introduced to parliament, so it's a great, um, it's a great 30 years on, uh, opportunity. Thank you for coming into the studio today. I've been talking to Demick about his efforts to get a petition going, get more and more people signing up. He's aiming for 3000 signatures for a petition which would, uh, push for a historic six convictions between gay men to be to be put aside and they would for them to be pardoned. Thank you. The full transcription of the recording ends. A list of keywords/tags describing the recording follow. These tags contain the correct spellings of names and places which may have been incorrectly spelt earlier in the document. The tags are seperated by a semi-colon: 2010s ; Alan Turing ; Alan Turing law ; Aotearoa New Zealand ; Auckland ; Criminal Records (Expungement of Convictions for Historical Homosexual Offences) Act 2018 ; Events ; Green Party ; Historic Convictions ; Kevin Hague ; LGBT ; People ; Radio New Zealand ; Radio New Zealand National ; Simon Mercep ; Wellington ; Wiremu Demchick ; attitude ; books ; chemical castration ; children ; code ; coming out ; communication ; community ; convictions ; expungement ; external resource ; friends ; gaming ; gay ; government ; gross indecency ; history ; homosexual ; homosexual law reform ; identity ; legislation ; lesbian ; march ; opportunity ; other ; pardon ; petition ; petition on historic convictions ; prejudice ; prison ; records ; relationships ; remembrance ; running ; stigma ; suicide ; time ; touch ; trans ; understanding ; website ; work. The original recording can be heard at this website https://www.pridenz.com/rnz_wiremu_demchick_historic_convictions_petition.html. Please note that this document may contain errors or omissions - you should always refer back to the original recording to confirm content.