Issue 13 MASSIVE: The Pride Issue

Cover by Eden Laing

Letetrs from our Raindow reps

Benjamin Thomas Watt (Benji)

He/Him pronouns

Ngāpuhi

BA majoring in History, minoring in Sociology

Hello everyone, my name is Benji, and I am the Rainbow Representative for the Oteha campus. I identify my sexuality as takatāpui. An interesting thing about myself is I am the world’s first takatāpui professional boxing judge. In the past twelve years, I have worked a lot in the rainbow community, working with Rainbow Youth, Outline, Rainbow Boxing, and the New Zealand Aids Foundation (now known as Burnett Foundation Aotearoa). However, in the past seven years, I have been battling off and on with cancer. Now that I have beaten lymphoma, I am ready to study, and I am ready to work with the community again. Because I have been isolated due to cancer and covid, I have been disconnected from the community. This role helps me get reconnected to the community again and tūrangawaewae (sense of identity and belonging). What I love about my job is the engagement with all the students who are studying at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University. I love getting to know everyone, listening to everyone’s stories, and learning new things. Student interactions are one of the best ways to know the community’s needs before heading into committees and meetings as part of my role as the Rainbow student rep. If you ever see me walking around the Oteha campus, feel free to introduce yourself and say hello, as I would love to meet you all.

Age: 41

European-Māori lineage - Ngāpuhi (Te Kapotai)

BA Majoring in Classics. Distance student

Kia Ora I’m Carlee, a proud Westie, born in Waterview, living in Rānui with my husband and my dog Cooper. My working background is in the mental health field. I am obsessed with true crime documentaries, supernatural fiction, Ghostemane’s music, Greek mythology and anything related to magic. When I was in high school, we did not have any out gay couples or support groups. I was lucky enough to have a couple of bisexual friends at school; I can imagine what it must have been like for those who did not. There was no LGBQTI+ representation or consultation in school matters, so I am thrilled to represent our community now. I look forward to being involved in online events for distance students, and finding out from you what you really need, rather than working on assumptions. As distance students, we face the challenge of isolation, and marginalised groups, such as those in the LGBTQI+ whānau, are often over-represented in mental illness and disability statistics. I am part of the disabled community; I have bipolar disorder and deal with chronic pain due to long-covid.

Rainbow students deserve tailored practical support, empathy, and robust representation and I believe our team of Rainbow representatives are well equipped to stand up and amplify your voices. He waka eke noa. A canoe which we are all in with no exception. This whakatauki implies that ‘we are all in this together’.

Hey! My name’s Ryan (he/him) and I’m this year’s Rainbow Student Representative for the Pukeahu | Wellington campus. You might catch me by The Pyramid or in the Co-Lab space from time to time, and if you do, please feel free to come up to me anytime if you have any questions or concerns about rainbow matters at Massey, or if you just want to chat! While I’m quite flexible with terms, I identify as queer and am always willing to catch up with fellow Massey queer-identifying students! Currently, I’m a first-year Design student majoring in Concept Design, and although I study on the Pukeahu campus, I commute by train to uni every day from the Wairarapa. In addition to university, I’m also quite active with fitness and enjoy incorporating a workout into my daily routine. Regarding my role, I serve as a Rainbow Rep to provide a student voice to our awesome rainbow and takatāpui communities on our Wellington Massey campus. I engage with them on a ground level, and advocate for their needs. This role has been most rewarding for me due to the number of open discussions I’ve been having and the connections I have made both within campus and outside of it. The short time I’ve been a Rainbow Representative has taught me a lot, and I’m eager to continue learning and hearing more about the unique student experiences within our rainbow and takatāpui communities at Massey.

Kia ora, my name is Katrina (she/they), and I study Social Policy and Politics here at Massey in Palmerston North. I am the Rainbow student representative for the Manawatū campus and a member of the Rainbow & Takatāpui Alliance (RĀTĀ) Group, which are newly established positions designed to help work towards equity and inclusion for our diverse rainbow community at Massey. Within these roles, I am empowered to connect with our students to hear their concerns and help build belonging, and what I love about this is having the opportunity to push for visible and effective change so that all of our diverse student body feel that they do belong and are adequately supported. So far, events throughout Semester 1 have helped build a safer environment at Massey for LGBTQ+ students, such as the Queer-Affirming Glitz & Garb and Pink Shirt Day fundraisers across each campus. Progress is now being made towards a rainbow room on the Manawatū campus due to launch early in Semester 2 (watch out for more information soon!) and other creative events to connect and uplift our community. Feel free to reach out to me at rainbowrep.pn@tetiraahupae.ac.nz with any questions or ideas surrounding our rainbow community, or say hi if you see me around campus!

WEEKLY NEWS

Massey puts male and female signs on all gender bathrooms

Sammy Carter (she/her)

Massey University finds it difficult to put the word ‘toilet’ on genderneutral bathroom doors, instead using gendered signage.

The university committed to having only all-gender bathrooms in the new Innovation building at the Albany campus, however, it used binary signage of a man and woman on the doors.

The complex cost around 11 million dollars to build overall.

Massey’s website claims it has gender-neutral facilities on every campus, “All gender-neutral toilets have: signs saying ‘Toilet / Wharepaku’.”

Auckland rainbow representative Ben Watt said the bathroom signs “defeat the point” of gender-neutral bathrooms.

Watt said the Innovation building had signs which said, “Please use the toilet that best fits your gender identity or expression”, a number of these leading to disability toilets.

“Being a non-binary student is not a disability.”

“You just have to change the signage, you don’t have to change the plumbing,” Watt said.

He suggested Massey take inspiration from Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) bathroom model. In 2017, AUT reassigned 165 toilets as all-gender to accommodate for gender-diverse students.

Its model includes having one building level as binary bathrooms, and the next level as all-gender bathrooms.

A Massey University spokesperson denied the claim that signs within the Innovation Complex point non-binary students towards accessible toilets. They said stakeholders including the students’ association were consulted during the design of the building, which contributed to the building of all-gender bathrooms, a squat toilet, and other features.

In January last year, the university’s Senior Leadership Team agreed that providing all-gender bathrooms would be a requirement for all new builds and refurbishments at the university.

“Massey University has made positive steps over the past few years in this area, however we know that a lot more work is needed,” the spokesperson

said.

As such, the Rainbow and Takatāpui Advisory Group was formed this year and was in the process of establishing two working groups: Data and Information and Facilities and Infrastructure.

Applications for the working groups are currently open to university members.

General president of Te Tira Ahu Pae, Jake Law, said, “We couldn’t understand why they’ve spent so much money on gender-neutral bathrooms to then make them have binary signage.”

Law had raised his concern with Massey staff but had no formal response and the signs were still up.

“They know what we think about it because we’ve shared our views quite extensively on the signage.”

Law said there had been no consultation with the rainbow community on appropriate signage. Rainbow rep Carlee Gregory said if you don’t identify as either a man or woman, having these signs in your face makes you feel like you’re not welcome on campus.

“They’re thinking this includes everyone, but although it’s pictures, it’s still gendered language.”

“All they need to do is call it Toilet or Wharepaku. That would solve the issue,” said Gregory.

Gregory didn’t feel gender-neutral toilets were a priority for the university.

Manawatū rainbow rep Katrina Anderson felt having a binary sign implied that male and female are the only two genders, rather than being inclusive of all genders.

You can find where the gender-neutral bathrooms are on each Massey campus on their website.

Massey puts gendered signage on all gender bathrooms. Photo / Supplied

Government says no to free public transport after over $350 million fuel tax cut

Brett Kerr Laurie (he/him)

Last month, Government responded to student-led organisation Free Fares’ petition opting not to remove public transport fares for tertiary students. This comes after Government’s fuel tax cut ended, which was estimated to cost $350 million for three months –while half-price public transport would cost $25 - $40 million.

The extensions on these subsidies, including a cut to diesel road user charges, would cost an extra $718 million to the end of June.

The Petitions Committee’s report said subsidising fares further would “reduce the revenue available to support public transport services”, such as improving workforce conditions.

The Committee noted half-price fares had been continued for under 25-year-olds, Community Service Card holders and Total Mobility Users,

while under 13-year-olds could travel for free.

This was estimated to benefit 2.2 million people, but Free Fares wasn’t satisfied.

The organisation wanted free public transport for all tertiary students as well.

“It’s something there’s support for and there’s a mandate for”, Free Fares spokesperson and Victoria University law student Mika Hervel said.

“We know we’re in a climate crisis and a cost-of-living crisis, and we need to pull every lever to respond to those situations.”

Free Fares was created in 2021 and is backed by over 80 organisations including Greenpeace, multiple city councils, and even Massey University. Hervel said the current half-price fares are “a step in the right direction” but not enough.

“We’re just asking them to go that one step further and make it free for those groups, which would cost money… but everything costs money.”

He said providing free fares “would be a really good way to incentivise a mode shift” from private to public vehicle use.

Free public transport would result in fewer individual vehicles on the road, benefiting everyone and the environment.

Free Fares’ petition stated, “Transport is New Zealand’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions”, a key reason to encourage public transport use.

Hervel said another driver for free public fares was to help young people studying as “student poverty is a real thing”.

Third-year photography student Kaea McGregor drives up to 30 minutes from Johnsonville to Massey’s Wellington campus most days. McGregor said she and her three flatmates would “100%” train to university if public transport was free. “We already pay so much to just live here and go to uni. I think it’s the best thing for students to have free transport,” she said.

Zach Cornelisen, third-year Massey screen arts student, lives in Island Bay and spends up to $20 a week taking the bus to the Wellington campus. He said, “I’d spend the extra money on my university fees and food,” quoting the cost-of-living crisis.

“[I] would love free public transport fares because then it encourages more people to use public transport, so there are less emissions, while helping our poorer community members.”

Luxembourg was the first country to make public transport free in February 2020, Malta was the second in October 2022.

Free Fares had continued to meet with members of parliament to discuss the benefits making New Zealand the third. Minister of Transport David Parker declined to comment when contacted by Massive.

Kaea McGregor drives up to 30 minutes from Johnsonville to Massey. Photo / Supplied

Free Fares spokesperson Mika Hervel says free public transport is affordable. Photo / Supplied

Massey’s Rainbow Tick only supports staff, not students

Sammy Carter (she/her)

Massey ticks off the box to say it supports rainbow staff, and despite constant advertising of their Rainbow Tick certification, it doesn’t include support for rainbow students.

The Rainbow Tick is about accepting and valuing people in the workplace, embracing the diversity of sexual and gender identities.

The university became Rainbow Tick accredited in 2017 and was reaccredited in 2022.

Some believed the Rainbow Tick company was falling into despair as more reports of people waiting months for email responses emerged.

In a Massey News article published in February announcing the launch of Massey’s rainbow platform Kāhui Irarau, Massey states, “Catering for nearly 30,000 domestic and international ākonga (students) each year, the university received Rainbow Tick certification in 2017 and is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all its staff and students.”

Massey currently has no dedicated rainbow spaces or rooms for LGBTQIA+ students and Rainbow Tick training for staff is not mandatory. General president of Te Tira Ahu

Pae Jake Law emailed Rainbow Tick earlier this year, questioning Massey’s Rainbow Tick certification, but has not received a response.

He felt the way Massey advertised the Rainbow Tick was “misleading” for students.

“I don’t believe that the university is a safe space for queer students.”

Rainbow Tick was known within the

queer community as being tokenistic as it’s easy to get and covers the bare minimum for inclusion.

Carlee Gregory, rainbow representative, said you’d expect the tick would extend to everyone in the university, “It can give the impression that they’re doing more than what they’re actually doing”.

“It’s like a seal of approval according to these little criteria … once they’ve got that seal of approval it feels like they don’t have to put in more effort”.

The rainbow reps said Pride Pledge, which pledges a dedication to the safety and inclusion of rainbow members in the community, would be a better certification for the university. However, Gregory did not feel Massey was at the point where it would be eligible for the Pride Pledge certification.

She felt the university needed more rainbow training for staff and all gender bathrooms.

A Massey University spokesperson said, “We know that providing a safe and welcoming space for staff means our students will benefit as well.”

They acknowledged the need for more work beyond just a Rainbow Tick certification.

“While the certification assists in laying the foundations of rainbow and takatāpui inclusion at an organisation, additional development is required.”

They said Rainbow Tick offers LGBTQIA+ online modules and

workshops for Massey staff which are encouraged but not mandatory.

276 Massey staff members had participated in workshops in 2022, with a further 193 this year.

The Pasifika president of Te Tira Ahu Pae, Aniva Feau, said, “It can be quite dangerous, people coming here thinking that they’re gonna have a physically safe space that they can come to and then that not being the case.”

Rainbow rep Ryan Davidson said it wasn’t made clear to students that Rainbow Tick supports staff alone even when promoted “so often to new students”.

Davidson felt Rainbow Tick was something that made the university look good, while Pride Pledge is an ongoing commitment to rainbow students and staff all year round. However, Katrina Anderson, Manawatū rainbow rep appreciated that Massey was taking more steps towards supporting rainbow students including having rainbow reps.

Albany rainbow rep Benjamin Watt said a pledge to support and do more for queer students sends a better message than ticking a box just to meet the bare minimum.

“It feels like you’re just ticking a box to say ‘yes I’m gay friendly’,” Watt said. Plans by Te Tira Ahu Pae to open a rainbow space in the Manawatū campus are underway, aiming to open this semester.

Students campaign for universal study wage of $385 dollars a week

Sammy Carter (she/her)

Students are calling for the Government to urgently implement a Study Wage for All of $385 dollars a week, to provide debt-free living cost support to all tertiary students.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and minister of finance Grant Robertson were once student presidents at their own universities.

At the time, they both campaigned for the expansion of the student allowance scheme and better Government support to alleviate student debt and hardship.

Now their successors at VUWSA and OUSA are calling for Hipkins and Robertson to return to their roots, in

the current context of worsening student poverty and debt.

Jessica Ye, president of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association said, “The tertiary underfunding crisis and student poverty crisis go hand in hand.”

The 2022 People’s Inquiry into Student Wellbeing reported around two thirds of students regularly do not have enough money to cover their basic living costs.

Overseas, since 1996 Denmark had provided a universal student allowance at 860 euros per month in 2022, roughly $1520 New Zealand dollars a month.

Ye said, “The petition we’ve just launched is not an isolated action but emerges from a whakapapa of resistance against privatisation reforms in tertiary education and student poverty, resistance which our

political leaders have their roots in.”

The current student allowance scheme was strictly means-tested and provided debt-free living cost support to 12% of tertiary students. Other students received up to $302.32 weekly in living cost payments which add to their student loan.

Ye said, “A study wage also recognises that learning is an inherently valuable contribution to society.”

“Valuing education as a public good means that we must see a more sustainable funding model for tertiary institutions and make tertiary education accessible to all.”

Data from Stats NZ showed that compared to the total adult population, people in study or training were twice as likely to have “not enough money” to meet everyday needs.

Quintin Jane, President of the Otago University Students Association said, “Student poverty is the product of the political choices of successive governments, representative of the wider disregard of student issues.” Jane said, “With universities experiencing declining enrolments and retention as a result of cost-ofliving pressures, now is the time to support our students to support our universities.”

“A Study Wage for All means students won’t have to choose between getting an education and supporting themselves financially.”

VUWSA and OUSA launched a petition for a Study Wage for All and will be advocating for political candidates to commit to the policy in the lead-up to the general election.

Almost 500 people had signed the petition so far.

Chris Hipkins and Grant Robertson both campaigned for the expansion of the student allowance as students. Photo / RNZ

It’s Raining Cats Vs. Dogs: A Surrealist Pop Exhibition

By Molly Richards (she/her)

Pretty Ugly: Cats VS Dogs - Te Auaha Gallery 23.06-03.07

This week (at the time of writing) I was fortunate enough to catch the last day of the pop surrealist group Pretty Ugly’s Cats Vs. Dogs show at Te Auaha Gallery. The range and life in this show was something else. To be honest, I expected no less from an exhibition on the topic. The age-old cats versus dogs face off is a passionate one to be sure. I’m sure many of us have a bias to one or the other. And I’m sure that you can put forth compelling arguments as to why your fur baby is the most precious wee thing in existence. I am no better. I’d say growing up I was always team dogs, but I would chalk this up to never having a cat or kitten. Nope, I’ve been lucky to have had five puppies and certified good doggos in my life thus far (three currently and they are my world).

Back to the matter at hand, no matter the side (if any) you stand on, Pretty Ugly’s Cats Vs. Dogs had some incredible entries that even this long-time dog aunt could appreciate. I was a bit shocked to find myself cheering for team cats, I guess when it comes to art and pets, I have time for all. In hindsight, I do wish I had made time to wander through more art shows.

As a design student myself I am ashamed at how little I visit exhibitions. Personally, I found staring pensively at pictures on a wall frankly, rather dull. HOWEVER, there was no staring blankly at the wall trying to come up with eloquent moderately pretentious responses at Cats Vs. Dogs (not to say there wasn’t anything to say at all). Quite the contrary actually; the visual feast left little room for that blank silence. Models, sculptures, drawings, paintings both digital and traditional, you name it, you’d find it. A melting pot of craft that was quite inspiring and aptly surreal. I’d say the explosion of colour and passion was what really captivated me. It was evident that the passion for team cat or dog (and even sometimes both) was only eclipsed by the talent and care in the work created.

I had left the warmth of my flat that Monday, battled the cold, wet and windy streets of Welly on a mission. I had set out to see the entries of my lecturers and one of our staff designers here at Massive (not so subtle plug, Eden Laing). Regardless, and I am speaking entirely from my own stance here, this show was fun, entertaining, and evocative of the subject matter and consideration of the craft. To get some further insight, I sat down with three of the

artists from Pretty Ugly to discuss the show. Tanya Marriot, Garry Buckley and Claire Tobin, all Massey Alumni and lecturers, had some pretty cool works – if I might say so myself. In brief, Cats Vs. Dogs called artists to pick a team (or both) and create an inspired work. Tanya Marriot, who curated the Cats Vs. Dogs show this year, writes that “Pretty Ugly is a group of artistic misfits from Aotearoa who explore satire and cuteness through low-brow and pop-surreal art.” In Pretty Ugly style, this group collective runs a show each year, with a theme that often plays on a sense of duality. Where the artists from all backgrounds “spread the word of endearing characters, childhood nostalgia and popular culture art in everything they make.”

Garry explains that the pop surrealist low brow style is hard to be taken seriously. “Low brow is for the people.” It is evident in this show that its accessibility speaks for itself, but what I found most interesting is that beneath the oftensimplistic surface idea and its fun presentation there is a deeper meaning to be found. Tanya and Garry explained that the Cats Vs. Dogs theme this year was in response to the fact that New Zealand has the highest percentage rate of pet ownership. A rate that went up at the start of the pandemic and so with it ‘post-pandemic pet dumping.’ Some works took a playful and somewhat comical approach, others an adorable display and then again others a darker turn still. What I can say for sure is that no two pieces were the same. I wish I had spent longer just looking, but there’s always next year. If you can’t wait that long, there is always Skullduggery later this year around the spooky season.

I can only encourage you to keep an eye out for more shows like this. Don’t make the same mistakes as me and catch on to the art scene outside of uni so late on, but if you find comfort in that, know it’s not too late! Grab a group of friends, go alone, check out what what’s going on and go. If you need a bribe just know most shows have free wine and cheese so ... do with that what you will. I believe Pocket would have loved this show and how can you argue with the resident cat and art connoisseur?

Pretty Ugly @prettyugly.world

Featuring art by Yoii, T-Wei, Aimee ‘Tokenin’ Cairns, Chippy, Nyssa Skorji, Claire Tobin, Garry Buckley, Michael ‘Malangeo’ Kennedy, Phoebe Morris, Sam Bee, Scott Savage, Stacey Robson, Stacy Wilde, Emily Pritchard, Paige Koedijk, Bo Moore, Andrew Shaw, Eden Laing, Caelan Holt, Tanya Marriott & Tom Robinson

Illustration by Annick Harvey

RE-O WEEK

17/07

- 22/07

THE LAUNCH

Join us as we celebrate the official launch of your amalgamated Massey Students’ Association: Te Tira Ahu Pae! Come along for delicious free food and premium entertainment from DJ’s, Artists and Performers

Albany: Thursday 20/07 12 - 2.30pm Student Plaza

Manawatū: Tuesday 18/07 12 - 2pm

MUSA Lounge

Wellington: Friday 21/07 12 - 3pm

The Pyramid

CLUBS’ DAY

Discover the diverse range of clubs and societies that Massey has to offer! A bustling event where social, sports, academic and cultural clubs come together to showcase what they’re all about, all in the hopes of attracting new members like you!

Albany: Wednesday 19/07 11am - 2pm

Student Plaza

Manawatū: Wednesday 19/07 12 - 2pm

MUSA Lounge

Wellington: Wednesday 19/07 11am - 2pm

The Pyramid

Illustration by @pyonnyom

Navigating The Marae as Takatāpui

By Cameron McCausland-Taylor

For many takatāpui tāngata, being on the marae can be confronting. Misgendering, where to stand when being welcomed onto the marae, what to wear; issues like these can cause a great deal of māmae for our takatāpui whānau. As described by Kerekere, Toni Duder and Morgan Butler in Growing Up Takatāpui: Whānau Journeys, colonisation in the 1800s impacted every facet of te ao Māori, including our takatāpui whānau. The voices of our tamariki and wāhine were being silenced, gender roles were being carved into submissive wāhine and warrior tāne, missionaries suppressed takatāpui identity by hiding and erasing takatāpui pūrakau and behaviour, and British laws made it illegal to be ‘homosexual’ for almost 100 years. In Māori culture and society, one’s marae is meant to symbolise their turangawaewae, a place for us to stand and belong. However, when you put all of what I’ve said about takatāpui history and treatment into perspective, it’s not unusual that for many takatāpui whānau, they don’t feel that sense of turangawaewae on their own marae or any marae at all.

Last year, my friend and I attended a takatāpui wānanga. We were told that during the pōhiri, we could enter in any order we wished and sit anywhere we desired. There were no gender roles assigned, and while neither I nor my friend struggle with gender roles on the marae, I can only imagine the relief of others in the rōpu who do face those struggles. The only person there to welcome us onto the marae was a tane, and he chose not to karanga (usually a role done by wāhine) which is kei te pai. However, in our rōpu, a person who wasn’t a cisgendered wahine chose to karanga in response, which was so new to both me and my friend, but so incredible to witness.

My kare Dani Marks (they/them) shared their kōrero as a non-binary person on the marae, having been on the marae more frequently in their adult life, most specifically through completing Te Tohu Paetahi, a full immersion te reo Māori course at the University of Waikato. The presumed gender on the marae has been hardest for them to overcome, becoming particularly anxious when it comes to the harirū. “I didn’t know te reo, so it isolated me a bit to be at the marae,” they said. “But I didn’t feel that isolation go away until I realised it was in regard to feeling isolated because I was genderfluid/non-binary… I prefer hongī, as it is our traditional way and doing kihi, ki a au, is a misogynistic

remnant of colonial whakaaro in pōhiri.”

When asked what tips or adjustments have helped at the marae, Dani said they always contact the organiser if they have made any accommodations for ngāi takatāpui.

“I usually have capacity to have these conversations because I’d prefer not to rock up and have the added māmae, but also because I am autistic and tend to like to know every single detail before arriving at a hui,” they said.

Dani’s usual suggestions are:

• Are there gender-neutral showers/wharepaku?

• Could we use the disabled toilet/showers that are usually separate?

• Stand in the middle of the ope coming on to the marae or where you see fit.

• Being clear that sometimes it does get overwhelming and identifying a safe space.

• Are there people who understand takatāpuitanga that are wellbeing officers?

Wear whatever kakahu you want, whether it’s pants, jumpsuit, dress. As long as it’s modest, who cares?

Kōrero like Dani’s offers up helpful tips and adjustments that could be put into place in order to help our takatāpui whānau on the marae feel more accepted and less isolated. These adjustments aren’t only for takatāpui to take into account, but also for allies on the marae to tautoko.

Te Aroha (she/her) also kindly reached out to me to share her experience as a trans woman on the marae, with her kōrero being really refreshing and uplifting to hear. She grew up on the marae, with her grandfather being a priest and the chief kaumatua of the pā, therefore she was raised sitting at the side of the men on the paepae. However, she describes herself as a “very obviously flamboyant and queer kid”, and recounted how there was always an air of protection felt from her nana and other kuia in the room. Tikanga was something she never struggled with, as her father’s side were always accepting of any adjustments she needed.

“I’m lucky my grandparents never passed judgement or questioned my identity as a child and allowed me to feel safe and accepted in any wharenui we were welcomed into,” said Te Aroha. “Both myself and my younger sister are trans

and grew up with very long hair, so we were welcomed as whomever we wanted to be. In Taranaki, girls wear a raukura on the marae and we were always asked where ours were by the elders.”

Nowadays, Te Aroha rarely goes back to her marae, therefore she is unsure how she would be received today as an adult. Nonetheless, the biggest thing that helped her growing up as takatāpui on the marae was undoubtedly her elders, especially her grandparents, who allowed her to be exactly who she was. This is how it should be for all our takatāpui tamariki and is a beautiful reminder to let both our takatāpui tamariki and other takatāpui tāngata be their fullest, most incredible selves, whatever that may look like.

“The pā is the one place we gather as equals and as whānau, and the tamariki are our future,” said Te Aroha. “My grandfather taught tolerance and acceptance and created a safe environment for me as a queer child.”

Many of our takatāpui whānau, especially our rangatahi, are isolated, disconnected from their whānau and Māori culture, and struggling with things such as addiction, depression, self-harm and suicide. However, it’s hugely inspiring to see kaupapa come to life that guides our takatāpui whānau and beyond on a path of acceptance and aroha, such as Hui Takatāpui, an annual hui that considers issues affecting takatāpui communities.

“There’s still a lot of work to do within our whānau, hapū and iwi and definitely on our marae which are those places which are meant to be our safe havens,” said Intersex Aotearoa co-chair Tu Chapman in a 2022 Waatea News article, Takatāpui seek change marae by marae. “We can’t do that if we don’t bring them along the journey, hence why we hold Hui Takatāpui at marae, so that we have that opportunity to embed our own kaupapa and align it with whatever iwi is hosting at that time.”

Our takatāpui whānau deserve to feel safe as themselves on the marae, and I can only hope that this piece sheds some light on how both takatāpui and allies can make strides towards achieving that. For more resources and links related to this piece, I strongly encourage you to visit https://takatapui.nz/.

Glossary:

Takatāpui - an umbrella term that embraces all Māori with diverse gender identities, sexualities and sex characteristics including whakawāhine, tangata ira tāne, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer. (Kerekere, 2015)

Tāngata - people/human beings

Māmae – pain/hurt

Whakawāhine - assigned male at birth but who lives as a woman

Tangata ira tāne - someone born with a female body who has a male gender identity

Whakapapa – genealogy

Mana – prestige, authority, power, etc

Te ao Māori - the Māori world

Tamariki – children

Wahine/wāhine - woman/women

Tāne - man/men

Pūrakau - stories

Wānanga - seminar, conference, etc

Pōhiri - welcome ceremony on a marae

Karanga – ceremonial/welcome call

Kei te pai – that’s fine

Roopu – group

Kōrero - conversation

Harirū - to shake hands

Hongi – to press noses in greeting

Kihi – to kiss

Ki a au – in my whakaaro

Whakaaro – thought, opinion, etc

Wharepaku – toilets

Takatāpuitanga - the lived experience and quality of being

takatāpui

Kakahu – clothes

Tautoko – support W

Kaumatua – elderly man

Pā - fortified village

Paepae - threshold

Raukura – feather plume

Rangatahi – teenagers/young adults

Kaupapa – plan, purpose, etc

Illustration by Olivia Goodman

Sexcapades

Crampy, cranky and still mad

My flatties friends don’t usually strike my fancy, but one day that all changed. One day, she walked in.

Her hair was long, she wore a gazillion rings on her fingers, and not a single tightfitting item of clothing in sight. She gave Tash Sultana energy and took my heart.

I wanted her more than I’d wanted anything in my life. More than I wanted my first flannel shirt, more than I wanted my first piercing and definitely more than I wanted air to breathe. Okay, that’s slightly dramatic, but if love at first sight is a thing, then I was experiencing it. After pestering my flatmate, I found out she was single and ready to mingle, so I did what any girl with a crush would do, I planned a flat party. It all came together better than Taylor Swift’s Reputation era and I was f*ckstrated imagining what was going to happen between us.

Friday night came, the party was popping and finally, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, she arrived. We got chatting, flirted a bit, and next thing I knew we were in my room with our pants off. Her rings were cold against my skin but it felt like proper euphoria, and within a few steamy minutes, she was giving me lip service.

Life was good. The girl I fancied was in between my legs and I was pretty sure a big-o wasn’t far away. But then, it all came crumbling down. My body went rogue at the worst time possible.

Midway through our sex sesh, I got the worst cramp I’ve ever experienced in my life. It was a toe curling, tear-worthy, “why God!!!” type of cramp but because I’m a trooper (or at least a simp), I was determined not to ruin the moment I’d been dreaming of all week. After trying to pass it off as moans, she could sense something was wrong and we had no choice but to stop. The mood was quickly ruined, and we ended up leaving things there and heading back to the party.

Safe to say, I’ve never been crampier and crankier in my life and am still wondering what I did to deserve such povo karma.

Solicited Advice

Hi Pocket, there’s a girl I like. How do I subtly let her know that I’m gay af?

You would not believe how many times I have been asked this question (thrice). For years, I have had forlorn lesbians pat me mournfully, for my sleek and soft fur is extremely calming for those in a state of lovesickness. A terrible affliction I try to avoid myself, but I understand it to be an inherent human folly. If you’ve already tried cuffing your jeans, piercing your nose, and putting your keys on a carabiner, I can only suggest casually mentioning an ex-gf in front of the object of your affections in your next design lab and hoping she picks up the hint.

This week, your impulsive nature will reach new heights. You’ll be tempted to start a marathon, learn five languages, and launch a gourmet cat food line. Remember, Aries, take a deep breath and focus on one thing at a time. No one needs a multilingual marathon-running cat food tycoon.

Beware of taking your stubbornness to extreme levels this week. While it’s admirable to stand your ground, refusing to share the last slice of pizza might not win you any popularity contests. Remember, Taurus, pizza is meant to be shared, and so is your awesomeness!

Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo

This week, your emotional side will be on overdrive. You might cry during commercials, laugh uncontrollably at puns, and experience all the feels at once. Remember, Cancer, it’s okay to be a roller coaster of emotions as long as you buckle up and keep your hands inside the ride at all times.

Prepare for a dramatic entrance this week, Leo! You’ll walk into a room, and everyone will turn their heads, jaws dropping in awe. Unfortunately, you’ll realize moments later that you had toilet paper stuck to your shoe the whole time. Remember, even the king or queen of the jungle has awkward moments.

Scorpio

Your indecisiveness will reach new heights this week, Libra. Choosing between a movie night and a night out with friends might lead to a three-hour internal debate. Remember, it’s okay to flip a coin sometimes. Just make sure it doesn’t land on its edge, creating a whole new set of decisions.

This week, your mysterious aura will attract attention from every corner. People will be lining up to solve the enigma that is you. Be careful not to reveal all your secrets at once, Scorpio. Leave them guessing, like why they can never find matching socks.

Capricorn Aquarius

This week, your ambitious nature will take over. You’ll set goals higher than skyscrapers and work longer hours than a caffeinated squirrel on a wheel. Take a moment, Capricorn, to appreciate life’s simpler joys, like a good cup of coffee and the occasional nap.

Your rebellious spirit will be in full force this week. You’ll question authority, challenge norms, and start a revolution. Just be careful not to rebel against your alarm clock. Oversleeping might make you miss out on the breakfast revolution happening in your kitchen.

Your social butterfly skills will be in full swing this week. You’ll be invited to multiple parties, events, and even a secret society. Just be careful not to accidentally join a cult. Check for any suspicious robe requirements and remember, Geminis look better in regular clothes.

Your analytical skills will be put to the test this week. You’ll try to figure out the meaning of life, solve world hunger, and design a more efficient way to fold fitted sheets. Take it easy, Virgo. Some things are better left to the universe, and folding fitted sheets might just be one of them.

Adventure awaits, Sagittarius! You’ll stumble upon a hidden treasure map, embark on a quest, and discover the legendary lost remote control. Remember, not all treasure is gold. Some treasures are cozy blankets, a bowl of popcorn, and binge-watching your favorite show.

Pisces

Brace yourself, Pisces, because your quirky side will be in full force this week. You’ll have an uncontrollable urge to wear mismatched socks, break into spontaneous dance routines, and debate the existence of unicorns at social gatherings. Embrace your uniqueness and remember to invite others into your magical world.

Basic Witch

By Tui Lou Christie (she/they)

A humble review brought to you by a local Witchabout-Wellington. Reviewing the places and things that will help you develop your pagan practices, revel in your arcane knowledge, and ascend to your highest self.

Welcome back for another semester of learning, dear witches. I’ve read the tea leaves, laid my tarot deck, watched the skies for dark omens and birds of prey, and it’s conclusive: this is going to be a good semester. There is no escaping it. Good learning, good grades, good skin, all of that. Good times are coming; it is inevitable. I hope your semester break was as restful as mine. I did some relaxing Winter activities like divining underground rivers in Happy Valley, knitting socks for kittens, driveway skiing, and witch-dipping in Balaena Bay. If you’re planning your potential Winter to-do list, here’s some recommendations of what (and what not) to do.

Roast Canteen Johnsonville

4 stars ★ ★ ★ ★

Good place for a Winter warmer. I go here with a small coven every other week for a pork roast before we hit up the cemetery (we call it cackling and crackling night), and the food never disappoints. They won’t give you the bones and carcasses (even if you ask nicely) which I understand, but it was a tad annoying to have to go rummage through the bins.

Resturant: Place:

The Magpie Lawn

1 stars ★

This space is rented out by the hour, and not for cheap. Unfortunately, it turns out that your money doesn’t provide you exclusive access to the lawn. This means your local primary school’s handball team can still turn up and practice while you’re attempting to guerrilla garden council property. $105 can’t buy you an hour of peace and quiet to surreptitiously sow hemlock seeds without some handball coach or another getting you escorted off property by a member of staff. Do not recommend!

Place:

Kmart Petone

5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The curse upon this place lies thick and heavy. Just on the other side of the veil, dark shapes shuffle through the aisles, formless and unknowable. They move like restless cattle; I am thankful we can’t see the herder.

They had such a good discount on an oil heater and bulk buying pillar candles, I will be shopping here again!

Illustration by Eden Laing

Melancholy

By Natalya Newman (@natalyanewmanauthor on TikTok)

Shadows dance like marionettes cut from their strings.

Darkness is cast by plumes of fire so bright that the sun grows envious and hides away until the world begs for its return.

A little girl, somehow unscarred by the world, reaches fragile fingers towards the sky and plucks the stars like ripe fruit.

She lays them in a basket like the nine lives of a cat, all pressed too close into a place that only has room for one soul.

I hate to be the bearer of anything, but the message and the messenger are both melancholy tonight, dear child.

I wish I could tell you that they will be home soon, that they will press paper kisses to your eyelids and fold your love for them into origami swans that nestle in your hair.

I wish I could tell you anything, dear child, but I have no tongue and no voice and no mouth.

I long to stand with you in the starlit room and tell you stories of magic and wonder and light.

But tonight?

I suppose we will pluck stars like berries together and let their nectar spill down our smiling faces.

A Short History of Crossdressing

By Tui Lou Christie (she/they)

The current drag bans in some parts of the USA are antiquated and lean into the exact same outdated rhetoric that has been fuelling anti-crossdressing laws for literally hundreds of years. These ignorant laws overlook the centuries-long history of cross-dressing, the importance and place of cross-dressing in religious practices, myth and legend, and cultural stories from across the world and throughout time. They ignore the history of people who cross-dress and their contributions to social movements, art, beauty, entertainment, war, and more. As long as people have had gendered dress, we’ve been experimenting with it, blurring boundaries, and creating culture. I don’t want to go too much into the disappointing, scary nature of these bans on drag and other legislation that deems it “adult entertainment”, both of which jeopardise the livelihood of performers. I would rather use my wordcount to celebrate a small chunk of cross-dressing’s long history, which is full of beauty, brightness, purpose, power, and identity.

Crossdressing, or the act of dressing in clothes not aligned with one’s gender or sex, has been practiced for many reasons, in many places, through many times. In theatre, folklore, literature, music, mythology, and religion. It is by no means a modern conception. Crossdressing exists in ancient cultural and religious stories of deities and heroes across the world. In ancient Greece, it was said that Zeus disguised himself as the goddess Artemis to be closer to the nymph Callisto, and that Dionysus could appear in both masculine and feminine forms. The Egyptian god Atum, whose name means “the complete one”, created all other gods and the world by himself, acting as both mother and father. While typically depicted in iconography as male, some surviving texts describe Atum as “The Great He-She” to reflect this ‘complete’ gender embodiment. In ancient Sumeria, the deity Inanna could present in both male and female form, bridging the divide between genders and the divide between heaven and Earth. There are many more examples, including Norse and Hindu mythology, that demonstrate just how long these stories have been told. In certain contexts, cross-dressing can be seen as an act of religious devotion for processions and rituals. Changing the barriers of human existence and escaping the convention of gender can be seen as an act of divinity, like Inanna; bridging the barrier of heaven and earth. Across the globe, especially in indigenous societies, cross-dressing and

other kinds of gender diversity were and are embraced for these reasons.

I’ve written in a previous issue about clothing as a marker of identity (issue 7, Big Boots to Fill: alternative fashion and its anti-capitalist legacy). That article was predominantly about clothing as an indicator of personal and political beliefs, but clothing is also used (and has historically been used) as an indicator of other strands of identity, like economic class, one’s role or job, and gender identity. Throughout history and across many cultures, there have been laws in place regulating how people can dress. Often, this was to regulate consumption of fine goods like expensive cloth (called ‘sumptuary laws’), reserving certain fabrics, colours, and embellishments for the nobles and elites as a marker of economic status and social class. Also incredibly prevalent was laws dictating and enforcing standards of ‘male’ and ‘female’ dress, in many places and many times. In the USA (where these current drag bans are being put into place) from the mid-nineteenth century, this was on a city-by-city basis, and many places outlawed cross-dressing starting with St Louis, Missouri in 1843. By the end of the century, more than 40 US cities has passed these laws, allowing thousands of people to be arrested, and many more to be fined, for a range of gender transgressions. These laws targeted cross-dressing entertainers as well as trans*, gender diverse, and queer people well into the twentieth century. They were also used to arrest or fine feminist dress reformers and other women who dressed as men to make a better wage or travel safely.

During the twentieth century, burgeoning social movements and activism resulted in great visibility and greater power for queer and trans communities, which eventually lead to the repeal of many of these laws in state supreme court rulings in the ‘80s. More militant kinds of social action arose in the 1960s, leading to spontaneous protests to police harassment like Compton’s Cafeteria riot in San Fran in ‘66 and the Stonewall riot in NYC in ‘69. From this time on, people charged with cross-dressing offences began successfully challenging the legitimacy of these laws in court, citing modern unisex fashions that meant ‘male’ and ‘female’ dress were increasingly outdated ideas. Social movements don’t exist in vacuums, and this social

and legal progress emerged alongside other socio-political movements like second-wave feminism, gay liberation, Black Power, and anti-war protests.

In fact, there is a long history of crossdressing and war. Some of the most famous stories of war (fictional and historic) that we remember today involve cross-dressing. Immediately, Joan of Arc comes to mind, the young French teen who dressed as a man to become a military leader during the Hundred Years War. Further back in history, you might think of Hua Mulan, the ancient Chinese folkloric heroine who presented male to take her ill father’s place in the draft. In many times of war, women have disguised themselves as men to serve in battle or to protect and disguise themselves in other dangerous situations. Estimates vary, but somewhere between 500 and 1000 women disguised themselves to serve in the American Civil War according to historian Elizabeth Leonard. There are also recorded instances for both WWI and WWII. On the opposite side of that, some men have been known to dress as women to dodge the draft, just as the fictitious

Achilles did to avoid joining the Trojan war. It was extremely common, especially during WWII, for men at war to crossdress as a form of entertainment for their fellow troops and boost morale. There are hundreds of surviving photographs of soldiers dressed as women on stages, in chorus lines or with other soldiers playing male parts in a narrative. I can imagine how, in a time of combat, uncertainty, and harsh conditions, soldiers would be in need of a good laugh, and to do it together, unified.

Of course, there is so much more history that I haven’t covered here. However, my point remains. Banning crossdressing on a perceived moral basis is outdated, ignorant, bigoted, and harmful. Humans have always done it, for themselves, for their religion, for their art, for their country, for their beliefs, and for other people. It has been shaped by countless artists, performers, and everyday people, straight and queer. It has made icons, it has made change, it has made the world better. Cross-dressing is for experimenting, playing, pushing boundaries, loving, and creating joy. It is for everyone.

Illustration by Annick Harvey

Validation Stations

By Aiden Wilson (they/them)

Technology can be a wonderful thing. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to connect with others the way we do now.

The internet especially has allowed for people to come together in unprecedented fashion, connect with others like themselves, feel validated for who they are, as well as consume content that makes the individual feel happy and accepted. Like everything however, there is another side. Take everything I’ve just said and flip it.

The internet, especially social media, can become a space where invalidation and bullying run rampant. As a non-binary individual, it can be incredibly frustrating. You like a post or watch a video that happens to be viewed by a certain number of bigoted individuals, and suddenly the algorithm or whatever thinks you’ll want to see EVERYTHING they do. This results in a sudden burst of bigoted, far-right content on your timeline, and that’s just the start.

For me, the floodgate opened when I happened to view an Andrew Tate YouTube short (don’t @ me for YouTube Shorts) completely by mistake.

Swiping through the videos, I watched no more than ten seconds before realising what it was, swiping away once I knew. But the damage had been done, and where there was one, there was now two, and so on and so forth. Eventually my YouTube feed was flooded with this kind of content, resulting in me having a very invalidated and overall dark mindset for the rest of the day. Now eventually I was able to curate the feedback to something a little more me by seeking out memes and music-related videos, but the damage was done. I felt awful for being myself. I’m not the only person who has experienced this, and it’s not just a YouTube problem either. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: social networks which have just as much power to build a person up as they do to tear them down. And when they tear a person down, they make sure they’re beaten to within an inch of their life. It’s not even intentional, mostly. We could talk about the how and why of algorithms behaving the way they do ‘til the cows come home, but that’s not the focus here. You’ve got the background, but what can be done about it?

The internet is such a huge part of everyday life, so how can a queer individual make it a more positive place for themselves?

Seek out the positivity

So, you’ve just been hate-crimed by the apostles of a bald man who wears sunglasses indoors. While you could sit there feeling bad about who you are or doom scrolling, drumming in the bad thoughts even further, that won’t help you in the long run. A usually safe space is tainted by bad stuff, so let’s cleanse it and get that safe space back!

Seek out positive queer content: videos, memes, music, whatever makes you feel happy and valid. While the hatred of others can bring you down in an instant, it’s important to try and lift yourself back up, otherwise you could spiral. Don’t feel like being upset is invalid, however. If you need, take some time away. Breathe, meditate, do something that keeps your mind focused and relaxed. When you feel ready, you can try engaging with something happier. Or you can be like me, delete your social apps and only go in to post, ignoring the temptation to scroll.

Find like-minded communities

Whilst its reputation is incredibly sullied, a site like Reddit or even Discord can be a great place to connect with others who are just like yourself. Engaging in a new community can be terrifying, but there’s nothing wrong with lurking in the comments and reading what other good and validating things people have to say. You might just find people who have shared your experience, people who have found these communities for the same reason as you. Hell, you might just make some new friends who can share the love and validation, creating your own little found family in the process.

While communities do indeed exist to make us feel horrible, there are just as many out there to make us feel happy. The case usually is that the vilest are the loudest, so we hear them the most. The good people, the ones who want you to feel comfortable for being you, don’t scream like the bigots but they’re most certainly present. Seeking them out might just be what you need.

Ignore the toxicity

While this might seem obvious, it isn’t easy. Doom-scrolling is a very real pastime many of us, me included, engage in far too often. Whether it’s morbid curiosity or the mentality of making ourselves feel worse just for the sake of it, most of us have taken part in the practice once or twice. It’s not good for us, but it’s hard to stop. The biggest problem is that consumption ends up breeding more toxicity, with media thinking we like what we’re viewing and showing off more.

It’s so unhealthy yet so easy to do and hard to stop. Try your best though, you can do it! The block and ignore functions exist for a reason. Starting the doom-scroll will always do more harm than good, it always results in the scroller just feeling worse. My advice – do your best to walk away before you start. If you start anyway that’s okay, just try to remind yourself how loved and valid you are, despite what bigots say.

Being a queer individual can be hard, and that’s without the barrage of bullshit.

If you take away anything at all from this article, it should be that you’re valid and loved. Screw what other people say. There’s nothing wrong with you. Your queer identity is so valid.

For those who are in, out, questioning, or anything in between, just know that I’m proud of you. Existing sucks, and everyday can be a battle, but the world is a far more interesting and better place with people like us in it, and that’s a fact.

Enjoy an office outdoors.

Your pathway to a future career with Silver Fern Farms.

Are you keen to put your passion for agriculture into action? Over the next few years you could be working your way to being a Livestock Rep and an integral part of the local community.

At Silver Fern Farms we’re all about Creating Goodness from the Farms the World Needs and our Livestock Reps are a crucial part of making this a reality. They build and maintain relationships every day and help to ensure continued care and respect of land for generations to come. Our Reps partner with our farmers within the local community to ensure that excellent products are being produced and quality stock is being bought, so that customers all over the globe can experience the goodness we create.

The Livestock Talent Programme is an opportunity for you to kick start your career as a Livestock Rep. Building your skillset on the job, you’ll just need a bit of background in farming or agriculture, and a natural curiosity and can-do attitude – we’ll teach you the rest.

Come create goodness with us.

Learn more at careers.silverfernfarms.com/future-talent

Applications are open until 6 August 2023.

Across:

1. One of two beds attached together, the one above the other

3. 64-year-old ‘Queen of Pop’ and ‘Material Girl’ icon

5. ‘Cover Girl’ and ‘Sissy That Walk’ singer

7. Wite-Out equivalent correction fluid

8. A word that is used instead of a noun or noun phrase 10. Facial hair

13. Female parent 14. Coloured cosmetic product 16. Purple flowering plant 20. Public procession of celebration 21. Sixth calendar month 23. Relative position or direction of something

27. The application of creative skill and imagination

28. Greek prefix meaning ‘same’

30. Not related to base 2 systems

31. Cooking implement for frying an egg

35. Radio or Lady

36. Team ball sport with underarm pitches

39. Polar or Grizzly

40. Kill violently

43. ‘Rocket Man’ singer John

45. Strange or different

46. Large space for holding social dances

48. One of the seven deadly sins

49. American moving truck rental company

Down:

2. Chilly swimming birds

4. ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ author

6. Single-horned fictional creature

9. Rock singer/songwriter Freddie from 41-down

11. Beirut local

12. _____ fatale, female character archetype

15. Sense or expression of self

17. Underside; backside

18. Wizard of Oz lead character

19. Multicoloured light phenomena

22. Group of people with shared attributes or goals

24. Enigma code mathematician Alan

25. ‘Sexual Healing’ singer Marvin

26. Delay or obstruct by withholding

information

29. Mononymous singer with number-one singles in each of the past six decades

32. Holiday in a tent

33. Sequence of continuous action in a film, play, or book

34. ‘90s sitcom named for lead character/ actress

37. Disney sitcom Austin & ____

38. Possessing traditionally masculine qualities

40. Japanese name for Matariki star cluster

41. Band led by 9-down singer

42. Stand or sit to be drawn or photographed

44. Himalayan country in the news recently

47. Lettuce, Guacamole, Bacon and Tomato acronymic sandwich

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It's normal to feel overwhelmed when the essays start piling up. But if everything else is piling up too, we've got you.