The Fabulous Carmen Rupe: Tea, Toasties and Trade (seated event)
** 1pm, SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2026 **
Internationally renowned entrepreneur, entertainer, madam and mayoral candidate Carmen Rupe was based in Wellington for less than 15-years but has left us a rich legacy of memories and inspiring moments that are still talked about .
Join Walk Tours NZ and Wellington City Libraries for The Fabulous Carmen Rupe: Tea, Toasties and Trade, as we trace Carmen's Wellington years (1967-1980), in a seated presentation at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library.
Blending live storytelling, historic images, archival audio and personal memories, the presentation explores Carmen's Wellington, including Le Balcon, Carmen's International Coffee Lounge, The Peacock, Cleopatra's Coffee Lounge, Carmen's Bazaar, The Gazebo massage parlour, The Cottage brothel and Carmen's Curio Shop.
Learn about Carmen's landmark 1966 court case, her race to become Mayor of Wellington in the 1970s, and how she supported and offered a safe harbour to Wellington's Takatāpui LGBTI Rainbow communities.
“I would more or less hypnotise all my guests like a black widow spider and trap my clients caught in my web. As people left my coffee lounge at 6am or earlier I would splash them with Carmen’s exotic juice which meant that they would be back another night for more. The scent would guide them to me. Some would hear my voice calling like an eerie whisper from the depths of darkness.”
[from Carmen’s autobiography, "Carmen: My Life"]
Date: 1pm, Sunday 25 October 2026
Location: Ngā Pou Ruahine, Level 2, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library. 65 Victoria Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Cost: free and no booking is required
Duration: 1 hour
Accessibility: This is an indoors seated event. Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library is fully accessible, and has a comprehensive Health and Safety plan for public events.
Internationally renowned entrepreneur, entertainer, madam and mayoral candidate Carmen Rupe was based in Wellington for less than 15-years but has left us a rich legacy of memories and inspiring moments that are still talked about .
Join Walk Tours NZ and Wellington City Libraries for The Fabulous Carmen Rupe: Tea, Toasties and Trade, as we trace Carmen's Wellington years (1967-1980), in a seated presentation at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library.
Blending live storytelling, historic images, archival audio and personal memories, the presentation explores Carmen's Wellington, including Le Balcon, Carmen's International Coffee Lounge, The Peacock, Cleopatra's Coffee Lounge, Carmen's Bazaar, The Gazebo massage parlour, The Cottage brothel and Carmen's Curio Shop.
Learn about Carmen's landmark 1966 court case, her race to become Mayor of Wellington in the 1970s, and how she supported and offered a safe harbour to Wellington's Takatāpui LGBTI Rainbow communities.
“I would more or less hypnotise all my guests like a black widow spider and trap my clients caught in my web. As people left my coffee lounge at 6am or earlier I would splash them with Carmen’s exotic juice which meant that they would be back another night for more. The scent would guide them to me. Some would hear my voice calling like an eerie whisper from the depths of darkness.”
[from Carmen’s autobiography, "Carmen: My Life"]
Date: 1pm, Sunday 25 October 2026
Location: Ngā Pou Ruahine, Level 2, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library. 65 Victoria Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Cost: free and no booking is required
Duration: 1 hour
Accessibility: This is an indoors seated event. Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library is fully accessible, and has a comprehensive Health and Safety plan for public events.
Where is it happening?
Wellington City Libraries, 65 Victoria Street,Wellington, New Zealand
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Host or PublisherWalk Tours NZ
