Category: New Zealand

Oct 06
“Harmonious, Free, & Equal” — The Chief Human Rights Commissioner’s Hopes for a Polarised Aotearoa 

New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Stephen Rainbow, talks to YOUR EX’s Oliver Hall about the importance of societal cohesion, intergenerational dialogue, and what’s needed to protect LGBTQ+ human rights in a polarised world.  When Stephen Rainbow took on the role of New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner, he knew it would be complex. But […]

Sep 18
Green MP Benjamin Doyle Slams Parliament in Final Speech

Green MP Benjamin Doyle has delivered a blistering final speech in Parliament, describing it as “the colonisers’ house” built on systems of “exclusion and control”, as they stepped down after just 10 months in office. Doyle (they/them), one of the shortest-serving MPs in New Zealand’s history, resigned earlier this month following intense scrutiny over resurfaced […]

Sep 18
Liberation, Not Lip Service: Backing Gender Minorities Aotearoa

Oliver Hall sits down with Jessielee Pearce, Advocacy & Activism Executive at LUSH Australia & New Zealand, to discuss a collaboration with Gender Minorities Aotearoa that champions a brighter future for trans whānau. As Advocacy & Activism Executive for LUSH in Aotearoa and Australia, Jessielee Pearce (Ngāpuhi, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Hine) leads campaigns that uplift grassroots […]

Sep 05
Green MP Benjamin Doyle Resign from Parliament Citing Family & Safety Concerns

Green Party list MP Benjamin Doyle has announced they will resign from Parliament, citing personal wellbeing and family as their reasons for stepping away. In a statement released at 4pm today, Doyle, who was New Zealand’s First Non-Binary MP, said they had been on a “journey of healing” and had realised they could not continue […]

Aug 29
Opinion: What Happened at Outline?

Michael Stevens examines the charity’s 24/25 financial year and hopes a brighter future is ahead for New Zealand’s longest-running LGBTQ+ organisation. Outline Aotearoa’s history goes back over 50 years. Starting as “Gay Welfare” in 1972, it became “The Auckland Gay and Lesbian Welfare Group” in 1986, then “Outline” in 2007. Over the years, Outline has […]

Aug 21
Transgender Kiwi Victoria Monaghan Devastated After World Darts Federation Gender Policy Change

History-making transgender New Zealand darts player Victoria Monaghan says her career has been left “in tatters” after the World Darts Federation (WDF) introduced new eligibility rules banning trans women from competing in women’s tournaments. The WDF, which governs amateur darts worldwide, voted last month to restrict women’s and girls’ ranking events to players “recorded female […]

Aug 01
The Bar That Changed Auckland: Family celebrates 20 years

In 2005, Auckland’s queer nightlife was in constant flux—new bars opened with a bang, only to disappear within a year or two. That was until Wayne Clark launched Family Bar on Karangahape Road. With its bold, industrial-inspired vibe and inclusive ethos, Family didn’t just survive—it thrived. Now celebrating 20 vibrant years, Family stands as Aotearoa’s […]

Jul 24
NZ Government Orders Sport NZ to Scrap Transgender Inclusion Guidelines After Political Pressure

Sport New Zealand has officially withdrawn its guidelines on the inclusion of transgender athletes in community sports following direct instruction from the Government, prompted by pressure from coalition partner New Zealand First. The decision comes after NZ First leader Winston Peters threatened to strip funding from sporting codes that continue to implement gender inclusion policies, […]