Te Papa logo

Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa Tongarewa

Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand

International visitor tickets

Takatāpui

Takatāpui is a traditional Māori term meaning ‘intimate companion of the same sex.’ and was popularised in the love story of Tutanekai and Hinemoa. Today, takatāpui has been reclaimed to embrace all Māori who identify with diverse genders, sexualities, and sex characteristics such as whakawāhine, tangata ira tāne, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, non-binary, and queer.

While similar to the umbrella term LGBTQIA+, takatāpui emphasises someone’s gender and sexuality are inseparable to their Māori identity. The term was reclaimed to challenge the traditional western idea of sexuality and gender that came with colonisation.

  • A sultry 1970s photograph of a woman looking over her shoulder with flowers in her hair.

    Georgina Beyer

    Georgina Beyer was the world's first openly transgender / whakawahine mayor and Member of Parliament. She was the mayor of Carterton from 1995–2000 (elected twice), and (Labour) Member of Parliament for Wairarapa from 1999–2007. She was the world’s first openly transgender / whakawahine mayor and Member of Parliament. Both victories surprised many as Wairarapa was a conservative rural electorate.

  • 14 people dressed in glamourous style and in white are posing in a group. Some are standing, some are crouched, one is sitting on the ground.

    Performance – Dance and Drag histories

    Learn about the history of Ballroom, Vogue traditions and Drag culture in Aotearoa. House Marama, OVĀ Collective and historian Chris Bricknell share the history of iconic performers and their cultural influence.

  • A photo of a framed photograph of Carmen Rupe with big hair, a low-cut dress with large costume jewellery, and a carpet with horses running on it hung behind her.

    Your life is important – your archive is important

    Master’s student Felix Stribling unpacks their research into Aotearoa New Zealand’s queer heritage collections and the importance of centring queer and takatāpui voices in GLAMs (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums).

  • Carmen sits with a bowl while several men stand around with coffee cups and bowls in front of what appears to be self-serve breakfast

    Carmen’s International Coffee Lounge and the Balcony

    Carmen Rupe (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Heke-a-Wai, 1936–2011) was a flamboyant transgender woman, performer, business owner, and anti-discrimination activist who became a cultural icon in New Zealand and Australia.

  • A single panel from a comic featuring a montage containing a policeman, a poster of Carmen Rupe, a rainbow flag and a newspaper

    Poutokomanawa: a comic about Carmen Rupe

    This comic was created by queer trans illustrator, comic creator, and designer Sam Orchard after seeing the exhibition Poutokomanawa: The Carmen Rupe Generation at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Wellington, in 2019.

  • A small gourd with woven material covering it and it is attached to a stick that also has a woven handle.

    Taonga takatāpui

    Explore taonga (treasures) related to takatāpui on Te Papa Collections Online.