As part of Project Uplift (the refurbishment of the Rainbow Room) a documentary was produced by the Office of the Clerk/Parliamentary Service to tell the story of the room. The individual interviews were also published online under a Creative Commons licence CC-BY 4.0. A special thank you to the Office of the Clerk/Parliamentary Service for allowing Kevin's interview to be reproduced. The mp3 files on this page contain just the audio element of the video interview.
Summary
This summary encapsulates the core themes and messages from a recording titled "Kevin Haunui - Rainbow Voices of Aotearoa New Zealand," which took place in the Rainbow Room, Wellington's Parliament buildings, on April 3rd, 2019. The speaker, Kevin Haunui, a Deputy Chair of Te Whanau Whanau Trust, discusses the significance of the Rainbow Room in Parliament as a symbolic step toward the legitimization of LGBTQI+ individuals. Haunui describes the progress in society's recognition and acceptance of various sexualities and genders, noting that such acceptance is especially crucial for the empowerment of younger generations.
Haunui emphasizes a perspective informed by the individual's identity as Takatāpui, or a Māori individual who identifies as part of the LGBTQI+ community. The narrative underscores the interconnectedness between Takatāpui and broader Māori society, suggesting that the welfare of one is inextricably tied to the other. This intertwining encompasses both health and cultural vitality, with the assertion that the voice of the Takatāpui is a distinct yet integral part of the wider Māori voice, as these cannot be separated.
The discussion extends to the unity with Pasifika communities, highlighting the shared cultural connections and identities that transcend geographical boundaries within Oceania. Haunui asserts the indivisibility of cultural identity from LGBTQI+ rights, framing such rights as human rights, rather than isolating them as solely issues of gender or sexuality. It is suggested that without the foundational support of culture, individuals might feel adrift, lacking a vital anchor in their lives.
The Rainbow Room is hailed as a symbolic beacon that reflects the advancements made toward greater inclusion and recognition of LGBTQI+ rights as essential human rights. The speaker paints a picture of New Zealand's society moving towards a more inclusive landscape, one where the rights and expressions of the LGBTQI+ community are integrated into the fabric of human rights, suggesting a future direction that continues to build on this inclusivity and integration.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
Voices
Tags (computer generated)
aotearoa new zealand, australia, bisexual, collective, community, conversation, culture, family, gay, gender, hope, human rights, journey, lesbian, lgbt, mantra, oceania, other, pacific, people, politics, rainbow, reflection, sea, sex characteristics, sexuality, silence, space, spaces, top, voice, wellington