New Zealand, Oceania

New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, situated about 2000 km (1250 miles) southeast of Australia. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa. Political power is held by the democratically elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The open economy is known for being one of the world's most free market capitalist economies. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered citizens have most of the same rights as other people in New Zealand. This near-equality is a relatively recent development; sex between men was only decriminalized in 1986. New Zealand does not have specific transgender anti-discrimination laws, although New Zealand's anti-discrimination laws are now thought to cover members of the trans communities. The Property (Relationships) Act 2000 gives de facto couples, whether opposite or same sex, the same property rights as existed since 1976 for married couples. There are lively gay communities on both the North and South Islands, especially in the major cities.

 

News & Reports:

 

New Zealand’s first Olympic diver in 37 years is proudly gay

Anton Down-Jenkins will go to the Olympics as an out-and-proud representative of LGBTQ athletes. Anton Down-Jenkins made some history in May by becoming the first diver from New Zealand to qualify for the Olympics since 1984. And he has done it while being out and proud to identify as LGBTQ. “I never felt the need… Read more »

Reduction in HIV diagnoses in New Zealand

There has been a significant reduction in the number of people diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand over the past year. In 2017, 197 people were diagnosed – a decrease from the 243 reported in 2016, figures released today by the AIDS Epidemiology Group, University of Otago, show. It is the first time there has… Read more »

New Zealand passes law to clear historical gay sex convictions

The New Zealand parliament on Tuesday night unanimously passed a bill that is expected to allow about 1,000 men to apply to have past convictions for homosexual activity removed from their criminal records. Homosexuality was decriminalized in New Zealand in 1986, but men who were convicted before that date still have the convictions on their… Read more »

Lesbian couple become first to get married in Pride Parade in New Zealand

A lesbian couple in New Zealand has become the first same-sex couple known to tie the knot during a Pride parade in the country. Victoria Envy, 28, and Sinead O’Connell, 25, married each other on a float that was part of the parade on Saturday evening. ? The couple first met at the same Pride… Read more »

Jacinda Ardern becomes first New Zealand PM to march in gay pride parade

Prime minister joined a crowd of 25,000 in Auckland and called for more support for LGBTI people with mental health problems Jacinda Ardern has become the first New Zealand prime minister to walk in the country’s gay pride parade. More than 25,000 people watched the parade in Auckland on Saturday night, cheering as the prime… Read more »

New Zealand to introduce PrEP for less than two dollars a month

New Zealand has announced that it will publicly fund PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) for just $1.20 a month for a prescription. The country is one of a few that have made the decision to make the HIV prevention medication available at a reduced price. ? From March 1st, the treatment will be rolled out to those… Read more »

New Zealand’s Parliament unanimously passes apology for anti-LGBT laws

New Zealand MPs unanimously passed a motion of apology for the country’s historical anti-LGBT laws. The country’s Justice Minister Amy Adams had moved a motion to apologise to those convicted under anti-gay laws, that were scrapped in 1986. The motion was passed this morning unanimously, with all of the MPs present voting in favour. Ms Adams said:… Read more »

New Zealand to quash historical gay sex convictions

New Zealand has said it will move to quash historical convictions for consensual sex between men. Justice Minister Amy Adams said an application process will be introduced and cases will be judged individually. In 1986 when the Homosexual Law Reform Act was passed, sex between men above 16 years old was decriminalised. But convictions for… Read more »

Grindr documentary to feature at Cannes

A documentary about use of gay dating app, Grindr, in New Zealand is to feature at the Cannes Film Festival. The prestigious event – that often screens work by some of the world’s greatest film makers – will show the eight minute feature created by students, Annabelle Dick and Kyan Krumdieck. “We were trying to… Read more »

Chinese Expat Pens A Personal Story

Auckland, New Zealand – a Chinese expat, Dave Yan, who possesses a personal story of dedication, perseverance and ingenuity, released a biographical fiction novel, Over A Year, to celebrate being granted his New Zealand residency. Set in Auckland, the story surrounds the life of an international student, Dave, for the time period of over a… Read more »

New Zealand government to recognise ‘gender diverse’ people as well as male and female

The New Zealand government is changing the way it records gender – allowing people to identify as “gender diverse”. The government’s official data collection body Statistics NZ announced the change, which will be the new standard across government agencies. It explained: “‘Gender diverse’ will join ‘male’ and ‘female’ categories in a new gender-identity classification released… Read more »

New Zealand Defense Force rated world’s most LGBTI inclusive military

The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) has released a study of LGBTI inclusion in the world’s militaries and has rated New Zealand’s armed forces the most supportive The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) have given a 100% rating for LGBTI inclusion to New Zealand’s armed forces – topping the rest of the world’s… Read more »

Gay NZ skater Skjellerup blasts Olympics hosts

Kiwi speed skater Blake Skjellerup, one of the world’s only openly gay winter athletes, is still sweating on potential qualification for the Sochi Olympics, but remains eager to draw attention to Russia’s views on homosexuality. Skjellerup finished 33rd in qualifying for the Olympic 500m short track speed skating, one spot out of automatic qualification. The… Read more »

A quarter of all same-sex marriages in New Zealand are by Australians

Nearly a hundred Australian same-sex couples have resorted to travelling to New Zealand to get married since August. 47 female couples and 50 male couples have made the journey from Australia, since New Zealand’s equal marriage law came into effect in August. 361 same-sex couples in total have so far tied the knot in New… Read more »

Gay Speed Skater Blake Skjellerup Plans To Defy Russian Ban At 2014 Olympics

An openly gay speed skater from New Zealand says that he will represent both his country and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, next year if he is able to make the team. Blake Skjellerup plans to defy Russia’s recent ban of so-called “propaganda” supporting… Read more »

World’s first transgender MP seriously ill

New Zealand’s Georgina Beyer, who became the world’s first openly transgender MP in 1999, has chronic kidney failure The world’s first transgender MP, New Zealand’s Georgina Beyer, is seriously ill with chronic kidney failure. Beyer had been about to announce her candidacy in the Wellington mayoral election. She has not confirmed if she will no… Read more »

Gay Marriage Legalized in New Zealand as Lawmakers, Public Cheer

New Zealand became the first Asia- Pacific nation to legalize same-sex marriage, prompting cheers and singing in the same parliament where sexual relations between men were decriminalized 27 years ago. The third and final reading of the Marriage Equality Bill was passed late yesterday 77 votes to 44. Lawmakers and members of the public applauded… Read more »

New Zealand: Church billboard questions whether Jesus was gay

A controversial church billboard in New Zealand has been unveiled, which raises the question of whether or not Jesus might have been gay. St-Matthew-in-the-City church in Auckland, unveiled this year’s Christmas billboard, which features a depiction of baby Jesus in a crib, with a rainbow-coloured halo surrounding his head, reported Stuff.nz. The billboard reads: “It’s… Read more »

Gay Red Shirt Day

New Zealanders plan gathering to show Prime Minister that ‘gay’ is not an insult A group of parents have declared this Friday (9 November) ‘Gay Red Shirt Day’ after New Zealand Prime Minister John Key used ‘gay’ as an insult when he criticized a radio host’s ‘gay red top’. The day was inspired by Green… Read more »

New Zealand: Presbyterian Church to defy its governing body and perform same-sex marriages

A church in Wellington, New Zealand, has vowed to go against its governing body if equal marriage becomes legal, and perform same-sex weddings, ”because what matters in marriage is love and commitment.” The St Andrews on the Terrace Presbyterian Church, released a statement today titled “We support equal marriage”, which said that the church would… Read more »

Public debate about marriage equality to be held among Pacific communities in New Zealand

Pacific leaders in Auckland, New Zealand, say it is necessary for their communities to hold a public debate the country’s marriage equality bill to quell fears that it will cause conflict with Pacific churches and undermine “traditional values”. As reported by Radio New Zealand News, Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Su’a William Sio has asked… Read more »

AIDS memorial quilt gets permanent home in the Museum of New Zealand

Memorial quilt for the first victims of HIV/AIDS in New Zealand handed to museum in church ceremony Te Papa, the Nation Museum of New Zealand in Wellington The national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, accepted the country’s AIDS memorial quilt in a church ceremony yesterday. The quilt, a memorial to the first victims of… Read more »

Mr Gay World 2012 won by German man

The fourth Mr Gay World contest took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday. This was the first time that the contest included black African participants, whose involvement brought its own fraught set of problems. The title was taken by Andreas Derleth, a German man who lives in New Zealand and who beat 21 other contestants.… Read more »

NZ HIV infection numbers drop

Nurse’s care not adequate – report Alcohol warnings to pregnant women Mental illness on rise in children ACC tries to plug another breach Recession’s big role in mental-health spike Study follows 3000 as they age Council backs birthing proposal Release evidence to back claims, Pullar told Home service helps patients recover Widow begins her long… Read more »

One-fifth of gay Auckland men with HIV unaware they are infected

A fifth of gay and bisexual Auckland men with HIV are unaware they are infected, new research has found. The Otago University study is the first community-based biological measure of HIV to estimate of the rate of undiagnosed and overall HIV infection among gay and bisexual Auckland men. The research suggests 6.5 per cent of… Read more »

Regional action needed on homophobia

Australian gay rights activists have called on the Gillard Government to take a stronger stand on LGBTI rights in the region following the release of a United Nations report into high levels of violence faced by LGBTI people worldwide. The report was released in Geneva last week after a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution… Read more »

Gay New Zealand News & Reports 2001-02

1 Navy wins award for sexual openness 9/01 2 Gay couples in NZ–same rights as married couples 6/01 3 Congregation goes to court to get back into church 6/01 4 Anti-homosexual attitudes alive and well in NZ 5/01 5 Gay tourism: Are we ready? 4/01 6 Resort would welcome gays 4/01 7 Hero Parade–Hot in… Read more »

Gay New Zealand News & Reports 2003-06

1 Gay couple withdraws surrogacy bid 5/03 2 Hero parade has new debt-free outlook 10/03 2-A Ihimaera Witi—A Maori Writer in Two Worlds Jan-Feb/03 3 Mass ceremony at gay day out in support of bill 2/04 4 Support split on civil union bill 5/04 5 Civil union law likely to clear first hurdle 6/04 6… Read more »

Gay New Zealand News & Reports 2007-08

1 National Hui Will Promote Acceptance And Support For Queer Youth 1/07 2 Parliament farewells first transsexual MP 2/07 3 Coming Out in Sport 3/07 4 NZ gay teens targeted by bullies 4/07 5 Nothing’s too gay for Christchurch Pride Week 5/07 6 Asian gay men renew commitment to safe sex 5/07 7 Pacific told… Read more »

Gay New Zealand News & Reports 2009-11

1 HIV now no respecter of age or location 3/09 2 New Zealand survey finds gay teenagers at risk 5/09 3 Govt. will table anti-gay panic defence Bill 7/09 4 Obama to Name Openly Gay Ambassador 10/09 5 170 gather for takataapui HIV hui 10/09 6 The New Ambassador 12/09 7 Men Who Have Sex… Read more »