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Story: Gender diversity

Poutokomanawa

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<em>Poutokomanawa</em>

In 2019 a portrait of iconic Wellington transgender woman Carmen Rupe by Nicolette Page (the large image in the centre) was added to the collection of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery. The gallery held an exhibition to mark the occasion, honouring many Wellington transgender women of Carmen’s generation, including Chrissy Witoko (shown in the photograph at the top left), Georgina Beyer and Dana de Milo. The exhibition was called Poutokomanawa, named for the central supporting pole of a whare, to acknowledge the role Carmen and others of her era had played in supporting the transgender and rainbow communities.
 

Using this item

New Zealand Portrait Gallery - Te Pukenga Whakaata

Reference: Install view of <em>Poutokomanawa: The Carmen Rupe Generation</em> featuring ‘Carmen’ by Nicolette Page

by David Langley

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How to cite this page

Johanna Schmidt, Gender diversity – Difficulties and visibility, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/47399/poutokomanawa (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Johanna Schmidt, published 18 March 2021, reviewed and revised 4 May 2021 with assistance from Gender Minorities Aotearoa.