People of Pacific cultural gendered identities also played significant supporting roles in village, community, church and educational life. Quite often, the punake or musicians, choir conductors or poets would be fa’afafine or leiti, while others would be responsible for garland weaving, cooking and tapa making. The influence of missionaries and their teachings since the 1800s has shifted Pacific worldviews of gender away from fluidity and pansexuality towards condemnation. In Aotearoa New Zealand, as social acceptance and celebration of both gender identities and sexual orientations increased in the mainstream, Pacific communities, especially those involved in churches, condemned the social attitudes, and the people being accepted and celebrated.68 At the same time, the voices of Pacific people who identified with the unique genders of Pacific cultures69 were silenced due to misrepresentation70 as well as suppression by community and church leaders. Religious belief is a powerful influence that can be weaponised to discriminate. Some interpretations of the Christian religion can further marginalise minorities within the community. Pacific gender and sexuality diverse peoples are one example of this. Compared to heterosexual people, these communities generally experience higher rates of bullying, victimisation, suicide, verbal assault, depression, tobacco smoking, alcohol use and other drug dependence, all of which are barriers to career advancement and can lead to workplace discrimination.71 This discrimination is often perpetrated and reinforced by family members and church communities. There is a culturallyingrained paradigm that being sexually diverse or being physically or mentally disabled is a curse, 68 69 70 71 72 73 22 or the consequence of wrongdoings by parents, grandparents or ancestors. There is a growing number of Pacific peoples now challenging these prejudicial interpretations of religion and culture. In its most recent recommendations, the Committee for the Rights of the Child recommended that the New Zealand government take affirmative action in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender and intersex children, including Pacific children.72 Older Pacific people Older people in Pacific families and communities are known as elders, or matua. These terms recognise the contributions of their wisdom and knowledge to the family and community, as well as the care they offer small children. Often, the welfare of elders and matua is a matter for the extended family, and care takes place within that context. According to the 2018 Census, 10.6 percent of the Pacific population, or 40,454 people, are aged over 65. Due to historically low numbers of Pacific elders, and the focus of the family environment, little is known about Pacific peoples’ experiences of retirement income and transitioning from work. In 2018, the Health Research Council awarded a research fund to a project which will investigate the health and wellbeing of Pacific matua. It will seek to understand the impacts of migration, housing issues, work and living arrangements on matua wellbeing and family care. Katavake-McGrath (2020) – Unpublished PhD thesis, Pacific gay mens lived experience of legislative change. Including Tongan leiti, Fijian vakasalewalewa, Tahiti and Hawai’ian mahu, PNG palopa, Samoan fa’afafine, Cook Islands akava’ine, and Niuean fakafefine. Brown-Acton (2011) Presentation at the 2nd Asia Pacific Outgames. Human Rights Commission (2020) PRISM – Human Rights issues relating to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristics in Aotearoa New Zealand (https://www.hrc.co.nz/files/9215/9253/7296/HRC_PRISM_ SOGIESC_Report_June_2020_FINAL.pdf); Young people Attracted to the Same Sex or Both Sexes: Findings from the Youth ’12 national youth health and wellbeing survey - https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/assets/fmhs/faculty/ahrg/docs/ Youth’12%20Young%20People%20Attracted%20to%20the%20Same%20or%20Both%20Sexes%20Report.pdf. Committee on the Rights of the Child Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of New Zealand 2016 CRC/C/ NZL/CO/5. United Nations. 1966. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York: United Nations. Accessed at https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cescr.aspx. Talanoa: Human rights issues for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand