Chatham Islands Territory is governed by federal New Zealand law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, surgery not required
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (3-month deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Public Opinion
Chatham Islands Territory is missing public opinion data.
Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Chatham Islands Territory by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.
Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Same-sex marriage in Chatham Islands Territory is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 19, 2013
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".
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Chatham Islands Territory 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 Chatham Islands Territory is legal, surgery not required.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2023
Since Jun 15, 2023
Legal, surgery not required
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.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Chatham Islands Territory is recognized.
Current status
Since Dec 1, 2012
Since Dec 1, 2012
Recognized
New Zealand allows an "X" marker on birth certificates and passports.
LGBT discrimination in Chatham Islands Territory is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 1994
Since Feb 1, 1994
Illegal in some contexts
Under section 21 of the Human Rights Act 1993, discrimination against "heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientations" is prohibited, with no other sexual orientations being protected. Discrimination protections relating to gender identity and transgender persons are ambiguous but regarded as being protected under the ground of "sex".
Under the Human Rights Act 1993, there are a variety of specific exceptions from discrimination law relating to working in private areas (such as a person's home) and accessing special counselling services (such as counselling dealing with sexual abuse or family violence), among others.
Under the Human Rights Act 1993, there are a variety of specific exceptions from discrimination law relating to working in private areas (such as a person's home) and accessing special counselling services (such as counselling dealing with sexual abuse or family violence), among others.
LGBT employment discrimination in Chatham Islands Territory is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 1994
Since Feb 1, 1994
Sexual orientation only
The Human Rights Act 1993 prohibits discrimination in relation to employment and religious grounds, affirmed by section 19 of the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990, which apply everywhere. However, protections only apply to those of heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientations, and currently gender identity is ambiguously regarded as being protected under the ground of sex. That has not been tested yet, and is prone to being interpreted otherwise.
LGBT housing discrimination in Chatham Islands Territory is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 1994
Since Feb 1, 1994
Sexual orientation only
The Human Rights Act 1993 prohibits discrimination in relation to employment and religious grounds, affirmed by section 19 of the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990, which apply everywhere. However, protections only apply to those of heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientations, and currently gender identity is ambiguously regarded as being protected under the ground of sex. That has not been tested yet, and is prone to being interpreted otherwise.
Same-sex adoption in Chatham Islands Territory is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 19, 2013
Since Aug 19, 2013
Legal
legal for same sex couples
Serving openly in military in Chatham Islands Territory is legal.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 1994
Since Feb 1, 1994
Legal
Blood donations by MSMs in Chatham Islands Territory is banned (3-month deferral).
Current status
Since Dec 1, 2020
Since Dec 1, 2020
Banned (3-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 Chatham Islands Territory is banned.
Current status
Since Feb 19, 2022
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.
Equality Index ?
N/A
There is not enough information on Chatham Islands Territory for an Equality Index to be assigned. Please contribute LGBTQ+ rights information or survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Chatham Islands Territory to help improve its accuracy.
Top Contributors
Chatham Islands Territory LGBT Organizations
There are no organizations listed in Chatham Islands Territory. Suggest one
Share Region
LGBT Chatham Islands Territory Flag
Compare Chatham Islands Territory
Common queries:
- Is it illegal to be gay in Chatham Islands Territory?
- Is homosexuality legal in Chatham Islands Territory?
- Is gay marriage legal in Chatham Islands Territory?