New resource for whānau and takatāpui rangatahi (sexuality and gender diverse youth)

Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, Tīwhanawhana Trust and RainbowYOUTH have produced a resource to provide support and information for takatāpui rangatahi (youth) and their whānau.

The resource, Growing up Takatāpui: Whānau Journeys, draws on interviews with seven takatāpui rangatahi and their whānau about the importance of whānau support in a takatāpui young person's life. The resource explains the te reo Māori word takatāpui:

Takatāpui is a traditional Māori term meaning ‘intimate companion of the same sex.’ It has been reclaimed to embrace all Māori who identify with diverse sexes, genders and sexualities such as whakawāhine (trans women), tangata ira tāne (trans men), lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer. These are often grouped under the term ‘Rainbow communities’.

The resource includes information about the history of takatāpui, whakapapa, supporting takatāpui rangatahi through their journey, helping takatāpui rangatahi deal with discrimination by using the Te Whare Tapa Whā model of health, as well as other resources and organisations for support. It states,

Being takatāpui  is about whakapapa (descent from ancestors with sexual and gender fluidity); mana (authority and power to be who we are); identity (claiming all of who we are – culture, gender, sexuality and ability); and inclusion (unity across all iwi, sexes, genders and sexualities).

This resource is the second in a series. It is designed to be used with the first resource Takatāpui: Part of the Whānau.

The resource is available as an interactive website, the Takatāpui Resource Hub, or you can download or order copies of the booklet.

Related information and resources

See the previous NZFVC stories on resources and research about partner and sexual violence in Rainbow communities in Aotearoa New Zealand:

New report on partner and sexual violence in Rainbow communities, May 2016

New resource and new project for sexuality and gender diverse communities, May 2015 (this news story lists New Zealand and international research and resources on partner and sexual violence in Rainbow communities)

Also see ACC's toolkit on primary prevention of sexual violence (includes information on the rainbow community) and the LGBTI resources supported by the It's Not OK Campaign.

Update related news:

Oranga Tamariki - the Ministry for Children (formerly the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki) has published an evaluation of the Inside Out resource. The Inside Out resource includes video and teaching guides to help schools increase understanding and support young people with diverse sex, gender and sexual identities.

Selected media

BANG! Season 2 Episode 6: Takatāpui, Radio NZ, 02.07.2018

Takatāpui rangatahi resource to provide support to whānau, Māori Television, 30.03.2017

Māori whānau get new advice for supporting LGBTQI kids, Radio NZ, 29.03.2017