Public Consultation and Submissions

View the summary of submissions and group submissions below. 

Consultation closed on 25 July 2022

We consulted on:

• key details that will underpin the self-identification process to recognise gender on birth certificates; and
• a gender registration process for people born overseas, who do not have a New Zealand birth certificate.

Read more about the Consultation process (31 October 2022)

Details to underpin the self-identification process

We requested feedback on options for three key details of the self-identification process, including:

• the sex and gender markers, other than male and female, to be available when amending birth certificates;
• who can be a third party to support applications for youth and children; and
• if any additional requirements should apply when a person applies to change their name and sex more than once.

Process for people born overseas to register their gender

The self-identification process to amend New Zealand birth certificates will not be available to people born overseas.

In 2022, the Government committed to pursuing solutions for people born overseas (see Government Response to the Report of the Governance and Administrative Committee).

Officials are working to understand more about gender registration for people born overseas, ahead of exploring potential solutions. What we learn about the issues faced by transgender, intersex and takatāpui people born overseas will help us to develop solutions which work in the context of New Zealand’s identity system. In New Zealand’s identity system people use a range of documents as evidence of their identity since New Zealand has no national identity document.

We sought feedback on the scope of the problem, particularly:

• who will access a process for registering their gender;
• why it is important to register a gender as a standalone process; and
• how people anticipate using evidence of their registered gender.

Targeted engagement meetings

In June and July 2022 we hosted a series of online meetings with the intended users of the self-identification process, and those who are the intended users of a process for people born overseas to register a gender.

Further information about our approach to engagement is set out in our engagement strategy [PDF, 263KB]

Consultation material

Full Discussion Document [PDF, 723KB]
Quick read – sex markers other than male and female [PDF, 147KB]
Quick read – suitably qualified third parties [PDF, 146KB]
Quick read – additional requirements for multiple applications [PDF, 145KB]
Quick read – registering gender for people born overseas [PDF, 143KB]

Submissions

Submissions have been received.

Consultation closed on 25 July 2022 and we received 46 submissions. You can find a summary of the submissions here:

Summary of Submissions (PDF, 340KB)

Group submissions on a self-identification process to recognise gender on birth certificates

Submissions from organisations on a self-identification process to recognise gender on birth certificates are provided below:

Ara Taiohi (PDF, 172KB)
Family Planning (PDF, 386KB)
Gender Minorities Aotearoa (PDF, 261KB)
InsideOUT Kōaro (PDF, 387KB)
Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand (PDF, 101KB)
National Council of Women New Zealand (PDF, 551KB)
New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (PDF, 471KB)
New Zealand Law Society (PDF, 373KB)
New Zealand Post Primary Teacher’s Association (PDF, 150KB)
Outline Aotearoa (PDF, 75KB)
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (PDF, 99KB)
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata, The Human Rights Commission (PDF, 200KB)
Te Ngākau Kahukura (PDF, 421KB)
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand: Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley (PDF, 379KB)
Victoria University of Wellington Rainbow Law Student’s Society (PDF, 218KB)
YouthLaw Aotearoa (PDF, 196KB)

Group submissions on a process for people born overseas

Submissions from organisations on a process to recognise gender for people born overseas are provided below:

Ethnic Rainbow Alliance (PDF, 57KB)
PATHA (PDF, 122KB)
Rainbow Path (PDF, 553KB)
Refugees as survivors (PDF, 144KB)
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata, The Human Rights Commission (PDF, 200KB)
Te Ngākau Kahukura (PDF, 421KB)

Submissions made by individuals may be requested under the Official Information Act 1982. Personal details can be withheld under the Act, including names, addresses, and medical information.