- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Hate Crime Protections
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Bathroom Access
- ✔ No explicit protections
- 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 22 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
Homosexual activity in New Zealand is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 8, 1986
Legal
In 1986, homosexuality was legalised with the commencement of the Homosexual Law Reform Act.
Male illegal, female legal
The 1893 Criminal Code of New Zealand removed the death penalty as a punishment for homosexuality but replaced it with flogging, hard labour and life imprisonment. These provisions were removed in 1961 but homosexuality was still criminalised with imprisonment.
This only applies to male homosexuals. Lesbianism was never criminalised in New Zealand.
This only applies to male homosexuals. Lesbianism was never criminalised in New Zealand.
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
The law was changed under the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021 which came into effect on 15 June 2023. This allows gender self-identification and means that people do not need to go through the Family Court to change their nominated sex/gender, and do not require evidence of medical treatment to do so either. However, this only applies to those whose birth was registered in New Zealand.
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.
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
New Zealand requires evidence of medical treatment and to go to the family court to change one's legal gender marker.
Gender-affirming care in New Zealand is legal.
Current status
Since Dec 19, 2025
Legal
Beginning in December 2025, New Zealand would have stopped allowing minors to receive puberty blockers if they had not yet been already.
However the high court has granted an injunction and has ordered the government to not enforce the regulations pending a judicial review.
However the high court has granted an injunction and has ordered the government to not enforce the regulations pending a judicial review.
Until Dec 18, 2025
Legal
Informed consent for HRT was adopted nationwide during 2023 as according to the Primary Care Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy Initiation Guidelines (2023 - Aotearoa New Zealand). This guides GPs on how to initiate GAHT and has been adopted by many GPs. It should be noted that some GPs may not follow these guidelines completely.
Access to Puberty Blockers for minors under 16 whilst still not restricted sees further scrutiny as of late 2024 with the following position
"Noting that the Government has signalled an intent to consider regulating puberty blocker prescribing in gender-affirming care, clinicians should exercise caution in prescribing. Clinicians who initiate puberty blockers should be experienced in providing gender-affirming care and be part of an interprofessional team offering a full range of supports to young people presenting with gender-related issues."
Access to Puberty Blockers for minors under 16 whilst still not restricted sees further scrutiny as of late 2024 with the following position
"Noting that the Government has signalled an intent to consider regulating puberty blocker prescribing in gender-affirming care, clinicians should exercise caution in prescribing. Clinicians who initiate puberty blockers should be experienced in providing gender-affirming care and be part of an interprofessional team offering a full range of supports to young people presenting with gender-related issues."
LGBT discrimination in New Zealand is illegal.
Current status
Since Aug 10, 1994
Illegal
The Human Rights Act 1993 (Māori: Te Ture Tika Tangata 1993) outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Discrimination on the ground of gender identity is treated by the Human Rights Commission as unlawful under the ground of sex, but this interpretation has not been tested by the courts.
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.
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.
LGBT employment discrimination in New Zealand is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Aug 10, 1994
Sexual orientation only
The Human Rights Act 1993 (Māori: Te Ture Tika Tangata 1993) outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Discrimination on the ground of gender identity is treated by the Human Rights Commission as unlawful under the ground of sex, but this interpretation has not been tested by the courts.
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.
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.
LGBT housing discrimination in New Zealand is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Aug 10, 1994
Sexual orientation only
The Human Rights Act 1993 (Māori: Te Ture Tika Tangata 1993) outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Discrimination on the ground of gender identity is treated by the Human Rights Commission as unlawful under the ground of sex, but this interpretation has not been tested by the courts.
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.
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.
Same-sex adoption in New Zealand is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 19, 2013
Intersex infant surgery in New Zealand is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
The New Zealand law that criminalises female genital mutilation (FGM) allows for intersex infant surgery, and the practice occurs throughout the country.
Blood donations by MSMs in New Zealand is legal.
Current status
Since May 4, 2026
Legal
Following 'landmark' changes to its sexual activity screening rules New Zealand Blood has dropped 3 month deferrals for MSMs.
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.
Bathroom access in New Zealand is no explicit protections.
Current status
No explicit protections
New Zealand law does not regulate access to public toilets or other single-sex facilities by gender. The Human Rights Act 1993 does not explicitly list gender as a prohibited ground of discrimination. Discrimination on the ground of gender identity is treated by the Human Rights Commission as unlawful under the ground of sex, but this interpretation has not been tested by the courts.
In Ia Tangata (NZLC R150, 2025) the Law Commission found the law unsatisfactory and recommended explicit protection covering single-sex facilities. The Government responded on 23 February 2026 and declined to progress the recommendations.
In Ia Tangata (NZLC R150, 2025) the Law Commission found the law unsatisfactory and recommended explicit protection covering single-sex facilities. The Government responded on 23 February 2026 and declined to progress the recommendations.
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)
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#9 Germany80
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#10 New Zealand78
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#11 Australia78
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#12 Canada78
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#13 Belgium78
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Alternative names: New Zealand/Aotearoa (local name)