National Treasures - Excerpts

National Treasures shines a light on historical objects and artefacts from Aotearoa's recent past. In an excerpt from the first episode, Michael Gullery presents an issue of Hero magazine and discusses the queer community's promotion of safe sex in the fight against AIDS in the late 1980s and 1990s, as well as commemorating its fallen heroes. Legendary Whakarewarewa Village guide Mākereti (Maggie) Papakura features in the excerpt from the second episode. Granddaughter June Grant presents Papakura's diary dating from 1911, and expert Matariki Williams discusses the Māori scholar's many achievements.

Hero was one of New Zealand's most significant LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex) community events of the 1990s and 2000s. Along with Wellington's Devotion Festival in the 1990s, the annual dance parties, parades, film festivals and associated activities celebrated and strengthened the pride and health of LGBTQI+ communities ... The 1990s in general saw a blossoming of gay and lesbian pride. Hero and Devotion were some of the more public fruits of change in society following on from Homosexual Law Reform in 1986. Hero was particularly groundbreaking with its vibrant street parade which at times caused controversy for overt expressions of sexuality.

– Excerpt from Hero programme description in Te Papa's Collected Archives, Te Papa website

Key Cast & Crew

Amanda Pain

Line Producer

Bailey Mackey

Executive Producer

Scotty Morrison

Presenter

Doug Baker

Cinematographer

Kimberley Hurley

Post-Production Director, Producer

Stacey Morrison (née Daniels)

Presenter