Home > Living well & staying healthy > Gender identity >

Support networks for transgender & gender diverse people & their whānau

Ngā tukutuku tautoko mō te hunga irawhiti

Affirming your gender identity can be a challenging journey. It's common to feel isolated, but you aren't alone. There are many local and online support networks. There are also people willing to share their experiences and journeys with you and point you in the right direction or help advocate for you.

Peer support networks can help you with information about clothing, styling, hair removal, safe binding, packing, tucking and padding, social groups and other useful information.

For whānau (families), these groups and organisations can connect you to other whānau and help you and your tamaiti (child).

Qtopia

Qtopia provides regular support groups and social events for LGBTQIA+ (rainbow) rangatahi (young people) at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. Qtopia’s social group meets weekly on a Wednesday from 7pm to 8:30pm and is open to everyone.

Qtopia also provides peer support, healthcare navigation and support, diversity and inclusion workshops, support to schools and ad hoc support to any rainbow person or anyone supporting a rainbow person as needed.

Kindred

Kindred is a Christchurch organisation providing support and social connection for young trans people and their whānau (families).

To contact Kindred, email support@kindred.org.nz.

Transgender & Intersex NZ

Transgender & Intersex NZ is a large online peer group with lots of information and support. Members can direct people to other groups, including region-specific groups and groups for parents.

Gender Minorities Aotearoa

Gender Minorities Aotearoa is a cross-cultural and 100% trans led national organisation. It aims to facilitate health and wellbeing for transgender, intersex and takatāpui populations.

RainbowYOUTH

RainbowYOUTH supports young queer and gender diverse (LGBTIQ) people up to the age of 27, as well as their wider communities.

InsideOUT

InsideOUT is a national organisation working with rangatahi, whānau, schools and communities. It aims to make Aotearoa a safer place for all rangatahi of minority genders and sexualities to live and be in.

F'INE

F'INE is a Pacific LGBTQI focused provider. It provides Whānau Ora navigational services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and intersex community and their whānau.

Parents and Guardians of Transgender and Gender Diverse Children in Aotearoa NZ

Parents and guardians can get in touch with other local whānau through this group. It's confidential and moderated by experienced parents.

To contact or join the group, fill out the form at NZ Parents of Transgender and Gender Diverse Children or email nzparentsoftransgenderchildren@gmail.com.

Written by Ko Awatea gender-affirming care co-design group. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2023.

Sources

The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public

Center for Primary Care Harvard Medical – School terminology related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and more, retrieved February 2019.

Clark TC, Lucassen MF, Bullen P, et al. The health and well-being of transgender high school students: results from the New Zealand adolescent health survey (Youth'12) (https://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(13)00753-2/fulltext). Journal of Adolescent Health, Volume 55, Issue 1, 93 - 99. July 2014.

Human Rights Commission NZ – Transgender enquiry report: To be who I am. 2007.

Intersex Awareness New Zealand – What is intersex? (http://www.ianz.org.nz/what-is-intersex/), retrieved February 2019.

Ministry of Health – Transgender New Zealanders (https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/transgender-new-zealanders/health-care-transgender-new-zealanders), retrieved February 2019.

Oliphant J, Veale J, Macdonald J, Carroll R, Johnson R, Harte M, Stephenson C, Bullock J. Guidelines for gender affirming healthcare for gender diverse and transgender children, young people and adults in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Transgender Health Research Lab, University of Waikato, 2018.

Olson KR, Durwood L, DeMeules M, et al. Mental Health of Transgender Children Who Are Supported in Their Identities. Pediatrics. 2016;137(3):e20153223. March 2015.

Rainbow Youth – Useful Words (https://ry.org.nz/friends-whanau/useful-words/), retrieved February 2019.

Yogyakarta principles, retrieved February 2019.

Image and embedded video sources

Image of parent holding child by Joseph Gonzalez on Unsplash. April 2019.

Image of person having counselling from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.

Image of person writing on clipboard from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.

Image of medical person from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.

Image of two people hugging in front of a wall by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash. April 2019.

Image of two people in an office from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.

Image of two people reading from The Gender Spectrum Collection. April 2019.

Image of two young people having fun in outdoor area by Annie Spratt on Unsplash. April 2019.

Page reference: 615602

Review key: HISOG-53214