These are some of the key rainbow organisations that provide support and information to LGBTI+, takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and other rainbow people across Aotearoa.
RainbowYOUTH
RainbowYOUTH is a national youth-led organisation dedicated to supporting queer, gender diverse, takatāpui and intersex young people, as well as their whānau and wider communities. RainbowYOUTH runs drop-in centres in Auckland, Tauranga and New Plymouth, operates social groups in Auckland, Northland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and online, provides one-on-one support to young people around gender and sexuality, runs Naming New Zealand (that helps transgender, gender diverse and intersex youth with updating their identity documents) and publishes a range of information resources and websites.
OutLine
OutLine is a rainbow mental health organisation providing support services across Aotearoa. They provide a free nationwide 0800 phone line and online chat support service staffed by trained volunteers, a transgender peer support service for trans and non-binary people in Auckland, and specialist face-to-face and online viceo counselling exploring gender and sexuality for LGBTIQ+ people across Aotearoa. Anyone can call OutLine on 0800 OUTLINE (0800 688 5463), or access their chat service, any evening between 6pm and 9pm to talk about rainbow identities and lives. It’s free & confidential.
InsideOUT
InsideOUT is a national organisation which works with youth, whānau, schools and communities to make Aotearoa a safer place for all rainbow young people to live and be in. InsideOUT’s work includes support and resources for schools, connecting rainbow young people through national and regional events, and providing training for workplaces.
Intersex Aotearoa
Intersex Aotearoa (also known as Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand or ITANZ) is the key intersex organisation in Aotearoa. They provide affirmation, advocacy and referral for intersex people and their whānau, as well as information for organisations and professionals who provide services to intersex people and their families.
Gender Minorities Aotearoa
Gender Minorities Aotearoa is a nationwide organisation, which is run by and for transgender people, including non-binary, intersex, and takatāpui gender diverse people. It offers information, advocacy, and wrap around support for transgender people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. It runs The Gender Centre in Wellington, and provides online support to people across Aotearoa including through its Facebook group Transgender & Intersex NZ.
Tīwhanawhana
Tīwhanawhana is a takatāpui community group based in Wellington that welcomes people of diverse sexualities and gender identity. The kaupapa of the group is primarily for takatāpui: building community, telling stories and leaving a legacy. One of their initiatives, takatapui.nz, is a resource hub for takatāpui and their whānau, sharing information about takatāpui identities, experiences and history as part of te ao Māori.
Rainbow Path
Rainbow Path is is an advocacy and peer support group for the rights of rainbow refugees and asylum seekers living in Aotearoa. It provides peer support, and links people with lawyers, rainbow and refugee organisations and other services. The group also advocates for rainbow refugee and asylum seeker human rights, and educates allies and health professionals about these issues.
Adhikaar Aotearoa
Adhikaar Aotearoa is a new organisation that provides advocacy, education and support for LGBTQIA+ people of colour, particularly South Asians, in Aotearoa.
Nevertheless
Nevertheless focuses on Māori, Pasifika and Takatāpui Rainbow+ mental health by creating safe spaces for people to “be free to be heard, free to be seen and free to be their full authentic selves without denying any part of their holistic identity out of shame or stigma”. They run Manioro community events that “seek to disrupt toxic narratives and challenge unhealthy stereotypes surrounding our communities through delivering educational and creative workshops for whānau and communities while increasing the visibility of our Māori and Pasifika Rainbow+ peoples through storytelling, cultural performances and panel discussions.”
Rainbow Violence Prevention Network
The Rainbow Violence Prevention Network is a nationwide collective of organisations and individuals who work in rainbow violence prevention. Their goal is to make Aotearoa a place where all rainbow people are free of family and sexual violence, and all rainbow people who have experienced harm have access to safe supports.
Rainbow Support Collective
The Rainbow Support Collective connects peer-led LGBTQIA+ organisations who provide lifespan service delivery and peer-support services in Aotearoa. They work together on projects and advocacy to benefit rainbow people across Aotearoa.
I’m Local Project
The I’m Local Project focuses on contacting high schools, medical centres, hospitals, libraries, marae and community centres in more rural or isolated area of Aotearoa and supplying them with free resources about gender and sexuality. Its website also includes a regional directory of queer & gender diverse support groups all over Aotearoa.
F’INE (Auckland)
F’INE is a Pasifika organisation which provides Whānau Ora navigation support and services for Pasifika MVPFAFF+ / LGBTQI+, Rainbow and Queer people and their families in the Auckland region. They provide navigational support to fanau aspiring and working towards self-determined goals.
Village Collective (Auckland)
Village Collective provides sexual and reproductive health education for Pasifika youth. Their Rainbow Fale provides support for Pasifika Rainbow young people through mentoring, diversity groups and events.
Rainbow Hub Waikato (Hamilton)
Rainbow Hub Waikato (formerly Waikato Queer Youth or WaQuY) is based in Hamilton Central and provides support services for rainbow people within the Waikato/Hauraki region.
Ngā Uri o Whiti Te Rā Mai Le Moana Trust (Porirua and Wellington)
Ngā Uri o Whiti Te Rā Mai Le Moana Trust provides a youth hub in Porirua that includes a specific focus on Pasifika and Māori MVPFAFF+ and rainbow rangatahi.
Q-Youth (Nelson)
Q-Youth is a Nelson-based organisation that provides support, information, advocacy and education for LGBTQ+ young people and their friends, whānau and communities. They run regular social groups from their space in central Nelson.
Qtopia (Christchurch)
Qtopia provides support for rainbow young people in Ōtautahi Christchurch and the wider Waitaha Canterbury area. They provide regular support groups and social events in central Christchurch for rainbow young people and their whānau.
Mana Tipua (Christchurch)
Mana Tipua, Mana Ora is a kaupapa Māori group for rangatahi takatāpui and Māori LGBTQIA+ young people. They run group catch ups, as well as themed wānanga and hui that engage rangatahi in mātauranga and tikanga Māori through taonga tuku iho practises.