Every fortnight a group of young teens gathers.
They behave just like any other group of young people, swapping stories, hanging out, speaking their own language of life.
Trans and Non-binary Kids (Tank) is a peer support group that has helped young people find strength through friendship.
Maria (17) said as a trans woman, being able to talk to other people who had an understanding of what she was experiencing was good.
"Whether they would be trans related or just general things about life, just things we are interested in."
Elliot (13) said he started transitioning female to male at the start of last year.
The start of the process was changing his name.
"Changing my name was really kind of the first thing I did.
"I have really supportive parents so it was a lot easier, which was very nice."
Before making that change, thoughts about his gender identity had been on his mind for some time.
"I was trying to just figure out what gender I was.
"Am I non binary? Am I something else?
"Then I kind of figured it out and I was like ‘Right, time to do something about it’."
What he settled on was calling himself a "trans guy".
"I use he/him pronouns."
There were some challenges in the future for Elliot, and being able to have a safe space for trans youth to meet together as a community was important to him.
Tank facilitator Rachel Loper said the group started with the Rangatahi and Wellbeing (Raw) programme run by Able Minds.
The 12-week programme was designed for youth being affected by emotional distress, poor mental wellbeing or addiction issues.
"The Raw programme is how I met these people, they come to me one-on-one and we talk through issues that they are having."
It became apparent that gender and bullying was a big factor for some and so she decided it would be a good idea to open a peer support group.
"And it is just starting to grow."
Elliot’s mother Sarah said the members of the peer support group showed a lot of strength and courage.
"I live with Elliot every day but it reminds me how hard it is to negotiate with the world.
"But they are really just ordinary kids at the end of the day."
- People interested in finding out more about the group can phone 0800 494 262.
- TANK is an extension of the Rangatahi and Wellbeing Programme (RAW) which is run by Able Minds.
Able Minds is a mental health support service whose primary purpose is to provide support to tangata whaiora who are affected by mental distress or addiction and their whānau.
It provides emotional support, information, advocacy and peer support groups, imparting tools tactics and strategies that equip people to better manage their wellbeing today, tomorrow and into the future.
