From legalising same-sex marriage, to representation in media, stories of battling for LGBTQIA+ rights and everything in between, a new documentary aims to entertain and educate Kiwis on the pillar events in NZ's queer history - with more than a few familiar faces in tow.
'Queer Aotearoa: We’ve Always Been Here' covers important historical topics like NZ’s fight against aids, being queer in the public sector, the intersection between church and rainbow communities, and a lot more.
Hosted by Eli Matthewson and created by Harry Wynn, 'Queer Aotearoa' features some iconic Kiwis, including the Topp Twins and The Breeze’s very own Mike Puru.
A close friend of Puru who produced the documentary asked him to come onboard.
“I was initially reluctant because I didn’t feel I had contributed much to the community, but I was stoked that they thought my story was worth sharing,” he said.
Puru had real anxiety about sharing his sexuality to listeners on The Edge back in 2010.
“It was strange watching it back, just how scared I was to reveal who I am. But it made me a better person and I was surrounded by a great working family”.
“The generation before me were fearful for their lives, I was fearful for my career,” he added.
While there's plenty of fun to be had in the series, it also takes time to delve into the serious realities for queer people in NZ, both then and now.
Episode two focuses on rallying for the Homosexual Law Reform after six teens were cleared of killing 37-year-old Charles Arthur Allan Aberhart in 1964. Episode five features nurse Joan Bellingham who, as a result of her sexuality, underwent 12 years of electroconvulsive therapy from 1970-1982.
“Learning what LGBTQIA+ people have endured in New Zealand underscores how far we’ve come and how fragile progress can be,” director Harry Wynn told The Spinoff.
“That’s why understanding what’s at stake is so important, while still finding the warmth and fun through our wonderful host”.
Puru said he's very "humbled to be acknowledged in a beautiful doco with such incredible people”.
There’s still a way to go, but this doco really showed how much incredible work has been done by others over the years.
'Queer Aotearoa: We’ve Always Been Here' is now available to watch on TVNZ+.
