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Introducing Ōhanga Rearea
Tēnā koe, and welcome to the Ōhanga Rearea Framework.
This framework was developed over many years of engagement, refinement, and relationship-building with takatāpui and rainbow people across Aotearoa. Its purpose is to provide structure, support, and guidance to individuals, groups, and organisations, on a journey to whakamana - to empower our takatāpui and rainbow communities. Each stage of this journey has been identified, prioritised, and rightfully reindiginised.
Undoubtedly, there have been strides in LGBTQIA+ rights within our nation. And many groups and organisations, inspired by work overseas, have brought advocacy and pride to the forefront for many New Zealanders. From pride to progress flags, we have been undergoing a queer revolution.
But with this has come with other challenges. Of corporate pinkwashing - LGBTQIA+ commercialisation and the tokenisation of queer identities. Further, and particularly for our takatāpui peoples, some of us have found that rainbow kaupapa require more support in how they engage with Te Tiriti, intersectionality, and the more complicated aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
And so we present here a new resource; a co-designed, and indigenous-centred approach to takatāpui and rainbow advocacy: the Ōhanga Rearea Framework.
Inspired by the journey of the small green rearea bird, this framework enables takatāpui and rainbow inclusion in a meaningful way. It presents five essential growth pathways, and provides various tools and resources for the categorisation and development of initiatives at both a strategic and operational level within various contexts.
It is, in sum, the perspectives and aspirations of countless takatāpui and rainbow people - told through the journey of one of our smallest birds in Aotearoa, the rearea.
And it is a journey. For we exist within the context of Aotearoa, and are obliged to serve the diverse needs of our communities, and our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We must then harness indigenous knowledge and practices that extend throughout time and space. As such, our approach to rainbow and takatāpui community development must be contextualised.
As a free resource, it is my gift to you to use how you can. And in its gifting I only hope it can provide some semblance of structure it has given me in my work on behalf of our people. So now - read on ahead, and join the flight of the rearea.
Connor McLeod - Rangitāne o Wairau. Director, Uenuku Consulting.
Contact: kiaora@uenuku.nz