- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (less than 6-month deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Recent surveys in New Zealand have revealed a mixed response towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 10 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited New Zealand.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Same-sex marriage in New Zealand is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 19, 2013
Legal
Law was changed upon the passing of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act in 2013, which included the amendment under section 5 clarifying the meaning of marriage to "the union of 2 people, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity". New Zealand was the fifteenth country in the world, and the first in Oceania, to enact marriage equality.
Censorship of LGBT issues in New Zealand is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In New Zealand, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in New Zealand is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2023
Legal, no restrictions
Law was changed under the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021 which comes into effect on 15 June 2023. This will allow gender self-identification and mean that you will not need to go through the Family Court to change your nominated sex/gender, and you will not require evidence of medical treatment to do so either.
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Law was changed to allow trans people to apply through the Family Court under section 28 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationship Registration Act 1995. Currently through the Family Court, you are required to provide 'supporting evidence' of some form of medical treatment, which does not have to be surgery but may be.
LGBT discrimination in New Zealand is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 1994
Illegal in some contexts
The Human Rights Act 1993 (Māori: Te Ture Tika Tangata 1993) outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Initially, this law temporarily exempted government activities until 1999. In 1998, an amendment bill was introduced making this exemption permanent; this was abandoned following a change of government in 1999. The new Labour Government instead passed another amendment to apply the Act to government activities, and also to create a new ability for the courts to "declare" legislation inconsistent with the Act.
There is no explicit protection from discrimination based on gender identity/expression. In 2023, the Human Rights Amendment Bill (2023) was introduced in parliament to include “gender identity”.
There is no explicit protection from discrimination based on gender identity/expression. In 2023, the Human Rights Amendment Bill (2023) was introduced in parliament to include “gender identity”.
LGBT employment discrimination in New Zealand is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 1994
Sexual orientation only
The Human Rights Act 1993 (Māori: Te Ture Tika Tangata 1993) outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Initially, this law temporarily exempted government activities until 1999. In 1998, an amendment bill was introduced making this exemption permanent; this was abandoned following a change of government in 1999. The new Labour Government instead passed another amendment to apply the Act to government activities, and also to create a new ability for the courts to "declare" legislation inconsistent with the Act.
There is no explicit protection from discrimination based on gender identity/expression. In 2023, the Human Rights Amendment Bill (2023) was introduced in parliament to include “gender identity”.
There is no explicit protection from discrimination based on gender identity/expression. In 2023, the Human Rights Amendment Bill (2023) was introduced in parliament to include “gender identity”.
LGBT housing discrimination in New Zealand is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 1994
Sexual orientation only
The Human Rights Act 1993 (Māori: Te Ture Tika Tangata 1993) outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Initially, this law temporarily exempted government activities until 1999. In 1998, an amendment bill was introduced making this exemption permanent; this was abandoned following a change of government in 1999. The new Labour Government instead passed another amendment to apply the Act to government activities, and also to create a new ability for the courts to "declare" legislation inconsistent with the Act.
There is no explicit protection from discrimination based on gender identity/expression. In 2023, the Human Rights Amendment Bill (2023) was introduced in parliament to include “gender identity”.
There is no explicit protection from discrimination based on gender identity/expression. In 2023, the Human Rights Amendment Bill (2023) was introduced in parliament to include “gender identity”.
Same-sex adoption in New Zealand is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 19, 2013
Legal
legal for same sex couples
Intersex infant surgery in New Zealand is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Intersex minors are not protected from invasive surgical procedures
Serving openly in military in New Zealand is legal.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 1994
Legal
Blood donations by MSMs in New Zealand is banned (less than 6-month deferral).
Current status
Since Dec 1, 2020
Banned (less than 6-month deferral)
12 month deferral periods were dropped to 3 months across multiple categories of donor, including MSMs.
Banned (1-year deferral)
After a review, the 5 years deferral was reduced to 12 months deferral.
Conversion therapy in New Zealand is banned.
Current status
Since Feb 19, 2022
Banned
With 112 affirmative votes and 8 opposed votes, the Parliament of New Zealand passed the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act, banning conversion therapy on February 15, 2022, which took partial effect on February 19, 2022, with the remaining protections for those over 18 with "decision-making" capacity where "serious harm" has not been caused will take effect on July 19, 2022.
LGBT Rights by Regional Council
View the LGBT laws in each individual regional council of New Zealand.
- Southland
- Taranaki
- Waikato
- Wellington
- West Coast
- Gisborne District (Unitary Authority)
- Marlborough District (Unitary Authority)
- Nelson City (Unitary Authority)
- Tasman District (Unitary Authority)
- North Island (Island)
- South Island (Island)
- Chatham Islands Territory (Special Island Authority)
Equality Rank
- #13 Portugal76
- #14 Australia76
- #15 Cuba75
-
#16 New Zealand75
- #17 France75
- #18 Austria75
- #19 Argentina74
#40
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Alternative names: New Zealand/Aotearoa (local name)