Takatāpui Talk

Send us Fan Mail“This is my love letter.” ❤️🌈Tonight on Takatāpui Talk — Indigenous Voices, we meet Krystal Kara, one of the wāhine stepping onto the stage for Miss Whakawahine 2026.Krystal shares her whakapapa, growing up Māori, the whakawāhine who came before her, sisterhood, visibility and why Miss Whakawahine means so much more to her than beauty or a crown.For Krystal, this pageant is a love letter — to her aunties, her whānau, the trailblazers who created space before her, and ultimately, to herself.“We’ve always been here. We’re visible.”With Miss Whakawahine taking place this Saturday, we’re proud to share another voice from this extraordinary community.🎥 Krystal Kara — tonight on Takatāpui Talk, Indigenous Voices#TakatāpuiTalk #IndigenousVoices #MissWhakawahine #Whakawahine #Takatāpui #Māori #TransMāori #Sisterhood #Visibility #PrideAotearoa #IndigenousStoriesThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailTiffany Twist | Miss Whakawahine 2026, whakapapa and finding her voiceThis week on Takatāpui Talk, Indigenous Voices, I sit down with Tiffany Twist for a kōrero full of humour, honesty and heart.Tiffany takes us from her childhood in Kaiti and Ruatōrā to 27 years in hairdressing, and shares how her relationship with whānau, faith and whakapapa has shaped the woman she is today. We talk about takatāpui identity, the joy of finding community, and why she’s become so passionate about speaking up for our people.Tiffany is also entering Miss Whakawahine 2026. She tells me how preparations are going, what she might do for her talent, and why putting on a good show matters more to her than winning.There are serious moments, plenty of laughs, and a woman who knows exactly when to say what she thinks. Come and meet Tiffany Twist. 💜Takatāpui Talk, Indigenous Voices — our stories, in our own voices.Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailNephi’s Story | Takatāpui Talk, Indigenous VoicesAfter more than three decades, Donald reconnects with Nephi, a friend from his Auckland salon days. Together they revisit the late 1980s and early 1990s: the clubs, the fashion, their careers, and the people who helped them find their way.When Donald asks what Nephi remembers about herself at that time, her answer is simple and moving: “I was lost.”This is a conversation about the lives they lived then, the people they have become, and why those memories deserve to be heard and kept.Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailIn this beautiful and deeply personal episode, Te Warena shares her journey from childhood into a remarkable working life shaped by creativity, education and service.She reflects on growing up takatāpui, challenging the idea that our identities are something we are “influenced” into, before taking us through the many chapters of her career. At the heart of her kōrero is the extraordinary pastoral care she offers her learners—seeing the whole person, creating safety and helping each one recognise their own potential.Warm, funny and full of wisdom, this is a conversation about identity, purpose and the lasting difference one caring person can make.Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan Mail🌈 TONIGHT AT 6PM | MACAU JOHNSONTonight on Takatāpui Talk, Macau Johnson shares a kōrero filled with the highs and lows of life.From his childhood and studying Film and Television, to working on a recycling truck and becoming a Drag Race commentator, Macau speaks openly about the experiences that shaped him—including his extraordinary hauora journey.Honest, funny and real—this is Macau’s story, told in his own words.🎥 Watch on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TakatapuiTalk🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0f7P5M6L4IYgR1Qe2k5qgM🎙️ Listen on Buzzsprouthttps://takatapuitalk.buzzsprout.com📘 Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/TakatapuiTalk📸 Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/takatapuitalk🎵 TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@takatapuitalkPlease follow, share and help us carry these stories further.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.#TakatāpuiTalk #IndigenousVoices #MacauJohnson #Takatāpui #MāoriPodcast #Hauora #DragRace #QueerMāori #RainbowWhānau #AotearoaThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of **Takatāpui Talk — Indigenous Voices**, Donald Hollingsworth sits down with **Dr Huhana Hickey MNZM** for an intimate conversation about an extraordinary life.Dr Hu is Māori, disabled, lesbian, a lawyer, academic, human rights advocate and internationally recognised voice for disability rights. But behind those achievements is a deeply personal story of identity, whakapapa, adversity, resilience, humour and an unwavering determination to create change.From her childhood and the discovery of her Māori whakapapa, to living with disability, finding her place within our rainbow communities, studying law and becoming a formidable advocate for others, Dr Hu speaks openly about the experiences that have shaped her.And amongst the serious kōrero, there is plenty of laughter — including the wonderful story of a moko that apparently likes to dance like Michael Jackson.For Donald, hearing Dr Hu tell her story was an experience he won't forget.This is more than an interview about achievement. It is the story of a wahine who has continually challenged the spaces that weren't designed to include her — and helped make those spaces better for the people coming behind her.**An extraordinary life. An honour to share.**🎙️ **Takatāpui Talk — Indigenous Voices**Hosted by Donald Hollingsworth#TakatāpuiTalk #IndigenousVoices #HuhanaHickey #Takatāpui #WhānauHauā #Māori #DisabilityRights #LGBTQIA #AotearoaThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailRAWIRI TAHAU MAURIRERE ❤️🖤This week on Takatāpui Talk, I sit down with hairdresser and creative Rawiri Tahau Maurirere for a kōrero that begins with his childhood and his journey into hairdressing, before opening up a much bigger conversation.Why are so many Takatāpui drawn to hairdressing, beauty, fashion and other creative industries? Can our choice of career also be about finding safety, belonging and a place where we are free to be ourselves?We talk about Rawiri’s career with Buoy and Vivo, the emotional side of working with people, burnout and boundaries, chosen whānau, his next adventure in Rarotonga — and what we might say to young Takatāpui wondering where they belong.Important conversations. Our stories. Real voices.🎥 YouTube: Takatāpui Talk on YouTube 🎧 Spotify: Takatāpui Talk on Spotify 🎙️ Buzzsprout 📘 Facebook 📱 TikTok & Instagram: @takatapuitalk#TakatāpuiTalk #Takatāpui #RawiriTahauMaurirere #OurStories #RealVoices #Hairdressing #CreativeIndustries #CareerChoice #EmploymentForTakatāpui #Belonging #Whānau #RainbowCommunity #Māori #RepresentationMatters #MauriOraThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailWe are  honoured to welcome Mihirawhiti Searancke to Takatāpui Talk.From her whakapapa and identity to her years as a psychiatric nurse, activism, and reflections on whenua and land loss, Mihirawhiti shares a lifetime of experience and service.This conversation also touches on an important chapter of our history—one that reminds us why remembering our past matters for future generations.These are the stories that deserve to be heard, preserved, and passed on.🎥 Watch the full interview on YouTube🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Buzzsprout📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakatapuiTalk🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KqCVXQ6Q8rCjTQ6L6Q4gM🎙️ Buzzsprout: https://takatapuitalk.buzzsprout.com📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakatapuiTalk🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takatapuitalk#TakatāpuiTalk #MihirawhitiSearancke #Takatāpui #Matariki #Lesbian #RainbowHistory #LGBTQNZ #Māori #Whakapapa #Pēpeha #MentalHealthHistory #Tokanui #Activism #Aotearoa #OurStories #RealVoices #DonaldHollingsworthThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan Mail🌺 NEW EPISODE | TAKATĀPUI TALK 🌺This week on Takatāpui Talk, we're honoured to welcome Glory Haronga, the reigning Miss Whakawahine 2025.Born and raised in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Glory shares her journey of growing up Whakawahine, finding strength in her identity, the importance of sisterhood, community, and what it means to represent her people with pride.We also explore the significance of the Miss Whakawahine pageant, preserving Indigenous Pacific identities, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and celebrated.These are the conversations that preserve our history and celebrate the richness of our communities—one story at a time.✨ If you enjoy this episode, please Like, Subscribe, Comment and Share. Every share helps us archive and celebrate Takatāpui stories for future generations.🎥 Watch more episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TakatapuiTalk🎧 Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0f7P5M6L4IYgR1Qe2k5qgM🎙️ Listen on Buzzsprout https://takatapuitalk.buzzsprout.com📘 Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TakatapuiTalk📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/takatapuitalk🎵 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@takatapuitalkThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan Mail🌈 Takatāpui Talk | Amanduh La – Part Two | The Power of Drag, Identity & LegacyIn Part Two of my conversation with the incredible Amanduh La, we explore the deeper meaning of drag—not simply as performance, but as an art form that creates joy, confidence and connection.For audiences, drag can be an escape from everyday life. It invites us to laugh, celebrate, reflect and see the world through a different lens. Behind the glamour, costumes and humour are artists who dedicate countless hours to their craft, creating unforgettable experiences while often giving people permission to embrace their own authenticity.Amanduh also shares stories of chosen whānau, the takatāpui pioneers who paved the way, and the legacy she hopes to leave for future generations.Thank you for supporting Takatāpui Talk as we preserve and celebrate the stories of our community—one conversation at a time.🎙️ Listen or watch on your favourite platform:📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakatapuiTalk 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakatapuiTalk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takatapuitalk 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takatapuitalk 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/search/Takat%C4%81pui%20Talk 🎙️ Buzzsprout: https://takatapuitalk.buzzsprout.com 🌐 Website: https://www.takatapuitalk.comThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan Mail🌈 From Tokoroa to Paris, Italy and New York Fashion Week… this is the extraordinary story of Amanduh La.Growing up in the Mormon faith, discovering her identity, travelling the world as a model, and ultimately embracing the uniqueness that would become her greatest strength—Amanduh's journey is one of courage, resilience and authenticity.This conversation moved me so much that, for the first time on Takatāpui Talk, we've released it as a two-part episode.Part One is a story of dreaming beyond the limits others place on us, and finding the courage to become exactly who we are.I hope you'll join us.📅 Premieres this Sunday at 6:00 PM (NZT).📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakatapuiTalk 📘 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakatapuiTalk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takatapuitalk 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takatapuitalk 🎧 Podcast: https://takatapuitalk.buzzsprout.com 🌐 Website: https://www.takatapuitalk.comIf Amanduh's story resonates with you, please like, subscribe, comment and share. Every share helps preserve and celebrate the stories of our Takatāpui community for future generations.#TakatāpuiTalk #AmanduhLa #Takatāpui #Whakapapa #Māori #RainbowCommunity #LGBTQIA #QueerVoices #RepresentationMatters #Authenticity #EmbraceYourUniqueness #Podcast #Aotearoa #NewZealand #Storytelling #Pride #Resilience #OurStories #YouTubePremiere #PartOneThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailJade Dayna Kanara Mills | Finding Sisterhood, Love & Identity | Takatāpui Talk Ep. 8Today on Takatāpui Talk, I sit down with the wonderful Jade Dayna Kanara Mills—a proud Māori whakawāhine whose whakapapa connects her to Hokianga, Te Rarawa and Ngāti Tāmāra.Jade shares an extraordinary life story spanning decades. Growing up at a time when there was little understanding or language for young whakawāhine, she speaks openly about leaving home, finding community, surviving through sex work, and discovering the strength that comes from chosen whānau.This is also a beautiful love story. Jade reflects on the man she has loved for more than 30 years, the life they have built together, and the joy of creating a future that once seemed impossible.We also talk about the cultural work Jade has undertaken through Aha Ko Te Aha, the importance of preserving our stories, and what it means to grow older with gratitude, humour and purpose.Some parts of this conversation are frank. We discuss sex work, identity, belonging, and the realities faced by many whakawāhine of Jade's generation. These are Jade's lived experiences and personal reflections, shared generously and in her own words.Thank you, Jade, for trusting Takatāpui Talk with your story.If this conversation resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it. Every subscription helps us preserve and celebrate the voices of our Takatāpui community for future generations.🎧 Listen on Buzzsprout: https://takatapuitalk.buzzsprout.com🎵 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and wherever you get your podcasts.Follow Takatāpui Talk: 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/takatapuitalk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takatapuitalk 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takatapuitalk#TakatāpuiTalk #JadeDaynaKanaraMills #Takatāpui #Whakawāhine #Māori #RainbowCommunity #LGBTQIA #QueerHistory #OralHistory #Aotearoa #NewZealand #Community #Identity #Whānau #Love #Resilience #MāoriStories #Podcast #DonaldHollingsworth #AhaKoTeAhaI think this is one of those episodes people will come back to. Jade has a way of telling her story that feels like you're sitting across the table with her, listening over a cup of tea. Those are often the conversations that stay with people long after they've finished watching.Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailSteven Oates | Television, Radio, Pride & Community | Takatāpui TalkFor decades, Steven Oates has been a familiar face and voice in Aotearoa's rainbow community.From his beginnings in radio and television to organising Pride events, fundraising, and creating Woof!, Steven has dedicated much of his life to ensuring LGBTQIA+ people could see themselves represented and celebrated.In this heartfelt conversation, Steven reflects on growing up gay in New Zealand, finding community, the importance of visibility, and the legacy we leave for future generations.These are the conversations that preserve our history—real people, real lives, and real stories.In this episode:• Growing up gay in Aotearoa• A career in radio and television• Creating Woof!• Pride and community leadership• Visibility and representation• The importance of preserving our stories• Reflections on love, resilience and legacyAbout Takatāpui TalkHosted by Donald Hollingsworth, Takatāpui Talk is a long-form interview series preserving the voices, histories and lived experiences of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ people in Aotearoa New Zealand. These conversations create an archive for future generations—celebrating resilience, identity, culture and community.🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and Buzzsprout.📱 Follow Takatāpui Talk:Facebook: https://facebook.com/takatapuitalkInstagram: https://instagram.com/takatapuitalkTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@takatapuitalkIf Steven's story resonates with you, please like, subscribe and share this conversation so these important stories continue to reach more people.#TakatāpuiTalk #StevenOates #Takatāpui #LGBTQIA #RainbowCommunity #Pride #Woof #NewZealand #Māori #Podcast #QueerHistory #Storytelling #DonaldHollingsworth #OurStories #AotearoaThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailAt a young age, Raureti Ormond is already helping shape the future of Takatāpui storytelling in Aotearoa.A playwright, performer, drag artist and creative storyteller, Raureti joins Donald for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about identity, belonging, self-expression, and the power of being unapologetically yourself.Together they explore what it means to be seen, how creativity can become a place of freedom, and why telling our stories matters for future generations.This episode is a celebration of young queer Māori excellence, courage, and the next generation of Takatāpui voices.🎧 Takatāpui Talk – Important Conversations. Real Voices. Our Stories.Follow and subscribe:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, YouTube and Facebook.#TakatāpuiTalk #RauretiOrmond #Takatāpui #QueerMāori #RainbowAotearoa #MāoriStorytelling #LGBTQIA #Playwright #DragPerformer #TheTīwhas #HeIngoa #Podcast #RealStoriesRealVoicesThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Takatāpui Talk, Donald Hollingsworth sits down with dancer, choreographer and breathwork facilitator Taane Mete.Taane shares the story of a life shaped by movement — from childhood imagination and the freedom he found in dance, to performing with some of Aotearoa’s most respected companies, exploring drag, and eventually guiding others through breathwork, yoga and healing.This is a warm and deeply personal conversation about identity, grief, creativity, embodiment and what it means to live fully as takatāpui.Listen as Taane reflects on the people who believed in him, the experiences that shaped him, and the importance of love, movement and connection.Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailFor the first time on Takatāpui Talk, the host becomes the guest.In this deeply personal episode, award-winning journalist and broadcaster Claudette Hauiti turns the microphone on Donald Hollingsworth — internationally recognised hair and makeup artist, salon owner, and creator of Takatāpui Talk.Together they explore Donald's childhood in Rotorua, growing up Takatāpui, the unconditional love of his father and whānau, and the experiences that shaped a remarkable life and career.From dressing up in his aunties' clothes as a little boy, to opening his first salon in Sydney, working with international celebrities, navigating grief, loss, heartbreak, and ultimately returning home to create a space where our stories can be shared, this is a conversation about resilience, identity, and belonging.This episode is filled with laughter, tears, and the memories of the people who helped shape the man Donald is today.At its heart, this is a story about family, courage, and the power of living an authentic life.These are the conversations that remind us we have always been here, our stories matter, and our voices deserve to be heard.Ngā mihi nui to Claudette Hauiti for her generosity, friendship, and thoughtful interviewing.🎙️ Takatāpui TalkImportant Conversations • Our Voices • Our Stories#TakatapuiTalk #DonaldHollingsworth #ClaudetteHauiti #Takatāpui #MāoriStories #LGBTQNZ #QueerStories #Storytelling #HairdresserLife #Family #Grief #Resilience #OurStoriesMatter #AotearoaThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailClaudette Hauiti — Media, Politics, Identity & BelongingIn this episode of Takatāpui Talk, Donald Hollingsworth sits down with broadcaster, political journalist, media leader, sports enthusiast, and proud mother Claudette Hauiti.From her upbringing in Aotearoa to her years in the media spotlight and the halls of Parliament, Claudette shares a deeply personal journey of identity, courage, and finding her place in the world. Together, Donald and Claudette explore what it was like growing up as Takatāpui, the importance of remaining connected to whenua, whānau and te ao Māori, and the changing visibility of rainbow communities in Aotearoa.They reflect on the groundbreaking Māori Television series Takatāpui, discuss Claudette's experiences in the Press Gallery holding political leaders to account, and revisit the moments that shaped her understanding of who she was and who she could become.This is a conversation filled with humour, honesty, insight and reflection — a reminder that our stories matter, our voices matter, and that being seen can change lives.Topics include:• Growing up Takatāpui in Aotearoa• Whānau, identity and belonging• The impact of Māori Television's Takatāpui series• Women in sport and leadership• Journalism, politics and speaking truth to power• Visibility, representation and resilienceReal conversations. Real voices. Our stories.Hosted by Donald Hollingsworth.Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful and deeply personal episode of Takatāpui Talk, I sit down with playwright, storyteller and proud uri of Ngāti Hine, Czahn Armstrong.Together we explore identity, whakapapa, grief, whānau, creativity and the journey home to Te Ao Māori. From memories of his father and childhood in the North, to the origins of his play ĀE WOMAN — inspired by the true story of his great grandmother and the confiscation of her whenua in Pipiwai in 1965 — this is an emotional, funny and beautifully honest kōrero about survival, storytelling and becoming who you were always meant to be.These are our stories.These are our voices.🎙️ Listen now on Takatāpui Talk:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2550122#TakatāpuiTalk #CzahnArmstrong #AeWoman #Whakapapa #TeAoMāori #QueerMāori #Takatāpui #MāoriStories #PodcastNZ #Aotearoa #IndigenousVoices #Whānau #Storytelling #MāoriCreative #RainbowWhānau #RealVoices #OurStoriesThank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.

Send us Fan MailTonight on Takatāpui Talk we kōrero with Woshē Williams — a proud whakawāhine whose story is filled with honesty, humour, resilience, identity, and heart. 🌈In this deeply personal conversation, Woshē speaks openly about becoming who she is, the relationships that shaped her along the way, and the strength it takes to live authentically in a world that does not always understand difference.Together we explore identity, whānau, visibility, friendship, belonging, and the power of living in your truth.These are important conversations.Real voices.Our stories.Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth.If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond.Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews.Our conversations.Our stories.Our voices.Arohanui.