Untouchable girls touch NZ

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The story of New Zealand's social upheaval of the 80s can be followed through the story of yodelling lesbian twins from Huntly.

Speaking to Close Up's Mark Sainsbury, Jools and Lynda Topp said the documentary film Untouchable Girls, out this week, is as much a social history of New Zealand as it is about the Kiwi-as music and comedy duo.

Key moments of social change are brought into focus - from the anti-apartheid marches of the 1981 Springboks rugby tour, to the nuclear ban, to Bastion Point Maori land rights activism, to homosexual law reform - through footage of the Twins' involvement.

"New Zealand has a great history, and we dont get to see much of it," Jools told Close Up.

"We grew up," she said of the social changes in New Zealand.

Neatly illustrating the point, the Twins went from being among the protesters at the flour bombed Springboks test in Hamilton to doing pre-match entertainment as their blokey alter-egos Ken and Ken before Waikato played in the NPC final.

The new generation is different, with texting and blogging replacing placards and marching. But for all the changes, New Zealand still "runs on a cup of tea", said Jools.

"There's something fabulous about New Zealand, because in a way we want to be like the rest of the world with our ultra-fast broadband, but there's a part of us wants to be like in the '50s and '60s, where you think it's cool to have a sausage roll and a lamington.

"I hope we never lose that mentality that you can always fix things with a piece of number 8 wire."

- with Manawatu Standard

- © Fairfax NZ News