Rainbow Elders: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being, Our Rights - a panel discussion

Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission is proud to host this discussion for International Day of Older Persons in partnership with Kawe Mahara Queer Archives Aotearoa (formerly LAGANZ).

Panelists from the Wellington rainbow community - Mani Mitchell, Kevin Haunui and Lainey Cowan - will join Chief Commissioner Dr Stephen Rainbow for the discussion and a brief Q and A session.

Prudence Walker, Disability Rights Commissioner and Rainbow rights spokesperson will host the panel.

Pre-registration is required for this free event due to limited seating. The discussion runs from 10.30am to 11.30am.

NZSL will be available. The venue is accessible.

Light refreshments will be available.

A recording of the discussion may be made available afterwards via the Commission's website.

About our Panellists:

Dr Stephen Rainbow - Te Amokapua Chief Human Rights Commissioner

Dr Rainbow became the Chief Human Rights Commissioner in November 2024. His background prior to the Commission includes having been a prominent voice for marriage equality, a former chair of OutLine, and former board member of Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.

Mani Bruce Mitchell - IVSC, Queer identifying Elder

I am myself a little surprised to have arrived in, what Leonard Cohen called the foothills of old age. It has been revelatory, experiencing full blown ageism, learning to live with the effects/impact of a 2022 life altering accident. Adapting/learning that some aspects are linked directly to childhood trauma.

Proud to have been involved in the New Zealand Law Commission's recently released report on human rights issues for IVSC persons and last year representing Aotearoa, intersex elders at an historic Rainbow Elders hui in Madrid, Spain.

Kevin Haunui

Kevin Haunui (Whānau a Apanui, Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Uenuku, Tūwharetoa Āti Hau) is a Research Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington. Kevin identifies as takatāpui, and he is a long-time advocate of Māori and Rainbow Human Rights. `He is a founding trustee of Tīwhanawhana Trust (2009), an association that has enabled his involvement and participation in many events and causes that impact on takatāpui and Māori. He firmly believes in community solidarity, which requires active and empathetic connection with diverse members and views, and that voices who are silent or spoken for, are encouraged to grow and be leaders as part of their chosen community, Rainbow, Takatāpui and Māori.

Lainey Cowan (bio to come)

Prudence Walker - Host/Facilitator

Prudence Walker is Kaihautū Tika Hauātanga Disability Rights Commissioner and Rainbow rights spokesperson.

Prior to joining the Commission in 2023, Prudence was Chief Executive of the Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) New Zealand.  Disabled and queer, Prudence comes from a strong social justice perspective and is deeply committed to working to achieve equity for disabled people and marginalised populations.