In 1986, homosexuality was legalised with the commencement of the Homosexual Law Reform Act.

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.

In New Zealand, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.

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.

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."

New Zealand allows an "X" marker on birth certificates and passports.

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”.

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”.

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”.

Since the passage of the Marriage Amendment Act in 2013, same-sex couples have been allowed to adopt.

In 2015, the law prohibiting unmarried couples and civil unions from adopting was ruled unconstitutional.

The New Zealand law preventing FGM allows for intersex infant surgery, and the practice occurs throughout the country.

When New Zealand passed the Human Rights Act of 1993, which took effect the following year, LGBT people were officially allowed to serve in the military.

12 month deferral periods were dropped to 3 months across multiple categories of donor, including MSMs.

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.

Equal age of consent since homosexual (male-and-male) activity was legalised with the commencement of the Homosexual Law Reform Act on 8 August 1986.