In an important development for gender recognition, individuals in Aotearoa, New Zealand, can now identify as non-binary on their birth certificates without needing court involvement.
Previously, individuals seeking to align their sex and gender identity had to go through the Family Court and provide evidence of medical treatment. However, the new process eliminates these requirements, allowing applicants to directly apply to the Registrar-General by completing and submitting a statutory declaration. Furthermore, the revised process introduces an additional gender term, enabling applicants to select their registered sex as male, female, or non-binary.
For applicants under the age of 15, the application must be made by their legal guardian, accompanied by a letter of support from a third party. Acceptable third parties include registered doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychotherapists, qualifying social workers, or adults aged 18 or older who have known the individual for at least 12 months.
Applicants aged 16 and 17 can submit their own applications with either a letter of support or consent from their legal guardian.
This significant policy shift eliminates the requirement for individuals to prove they have undergone medical treatment to align their sex and gender identity. The Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill 2021, which passed unanimously, acknowledges the right to self-identify and removes the necessity for medical treatment.
The introduction of the new self-identification process following recent events that have highlighted the tensions surrounding gender issues within Aotearoa, including the Posie Parker tour – which was cancelled after widespread demonstrations and trans activist Eli Rubashkyn doused Parker in tomato juice.
The Warehouse also responded to claims by the self-appointed Apostle, Brian Tamaki, who alleged that the company was selling puberty blockers, a claim that the Warehouse firmly denied before accusing Tamaki of spreading misinformation.
Tamaki later explained that his comment was in protest of The Warehouse’s sale of Pride products, with a portion of the profits supporting LGBTQIA+ youth organisations.
