Takatāpui

They, the- these are seats, so they offer a place to sit, reflect.

And then if you can turn around and you see their, uh, plaques memor- memorializing them, you think, actually, you know, Takatāpui have always been here.

Mm.

We've always been here.

Oh, kia ora, everybody.

Welcome to Takatāpui Talk.

This is our official political panel for 2026.

So very excited.

You know, we're, we're out partying, we're out going to festivals, we're having these experiences, we're in relationships with our close colleagues and things.

So a lot of our Takatāpui lived experiences are naturally intertwined with each other.

Yeah.

Um, so yeah, it's very hard to, to ... for that not to come through in the work.

Crystal Cara, welcome to

Takatāpui Talk.

Thank you for having me.

It's an absolute honour and pleasure to be able to sort of advocate for myself, advocate for Whakawahine and Takatāpui on such a beautiful platform.

And I'm glad you two especially and that you especially were like, yes, I'd love to be interviewed.

And I'm really happy that you have been enjoying my platform.

Because it has been really hard work and Takatāpui Talk is going to continue on.

I would never give up something like this because our stories are so important.

Thank you.

Welcome to Takatāpui Talk.

So nice to meet you.

I've caught you today on this Sunday.

Yeah, they announced $200 million to set up an independent takatāpui commission, takatāpui or LGBTQ plus peoples.

I think this is a really good shout.

Personally, I think we've seen a lot of statistics where Takatāpui peoples are really horrifyingly disproportionately represented in some pretty shit statistics when it comes to sexual violence, intimate partner violence, hate crimes.

So I think it's really cool to see a policy that is seeking to address that.

And I think also another issue for them is mental health and suicide

We're so smart and intelligent people.

And we just, the wider way and the understanding of who we are as Takatāpui was incredible.

Until I went to an all COVID school here in Havelock North, which is like considered as the top, very wealthy families took their kids to this school.

And it was predominantly white Pākehā.

And I couldn't wait to get away.

Yeah.

And then, you know, we move into our careers like hairdressing was for Takatāpui is can be quite a saving grace.

And so can art.