For Youth and Whānau
resources
helpful links
Ka aroha, we are in the process of redesigning and updating our website. Some sections of this page are currently incomplete.
It can be hard being a young person with a diverse gender or sexuality, or variations in sex characteristics. Here are some resources and places you can get support throughout Aotearoa.
If you’re supporting a rainbow loved one, you may also wish to learn more about their identities and ways to support them.
Resources
More Than Four
A video resource from InsideOUT, exploring the identities and experiences of and beyond ‘LGBT’ identities.
Hearing from a wide range of people within the rainbow community: asexual, aromantic, intersex, non-binary, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, takatāpui, fa’afafine, akava’ine, queer parents and people who identify as both Māori, Pasifika or Asian and queer.
Te Ao Takatāpui
Te Ao Takatāpui is a video documentary series from InsideOUT Kōaro celebrating and sharing the stories and perspectives of takatāpui community members.
All episodes available to watch on our youtube channel.
Rainbow tamariki and whānau at primary/intermediate schools in Aotearoa
Listen to the voices of rainbow tamariki and whānau at primary and intermediate schools in Aotearoa.
Available to watch online.
Rainbow rangatahi at secondary schools in Aotearoa
Listen to the voices of rainbow rangatahi at secondary schools in Aotearoa.
Available to watch online.
Pronouns
InsideOUT Kōaro has developed a video resource on the importance of pronouns. Sharing your pronouns and asking for someone else’s is an easy way to signal to the person you’re talking to that you aren’t assuming what their gender identity is or how they wish to be referred to. This is really important because every trans and gender diverse person’s journey is different.
While some people may take steps to transition socially, legally and/or medically, others may not. You cannot know what someone’s gender identity is just by looking at them, knowing their name or hearing their voice.
Shift Hui
Friday April 21 – Monday April 24, 2023
Shift is our long-running national hui (gathering) for rainbow, takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and intersex young people aged 15-20. It is a safe place for rangatahi to connect, grow, and learn about different issues facing the rainbow community in Aotearoa.
Participants take part in a variety of informative workshops and fun activities, gaining new skills and knowledge that they can utilise in their lives, schools and communities.
We want to see a shift in the dominant culture and contribute to making Aotearoa New Zealand a safe place for everyone, regardless of their sex, sexuality or gender.
Shift Hui is historically held in-person at Horouta Marae every April. In response to the Covid pandemic, we have also hosted Shift Hui online.
“Coming from a smaller town, I was one of the only people I knew in the rainbow community. It makes everything a lot less lonely, and gives one hope for the future.” – Shift Hui participant
Making Schools Safer
InsideOUT’s resource book that provides an understanding of experiences of trans and gender diverse youth often face at their schools, and provides tips for whānau and counsellors.
Supporting Aotearoa’s Rainbow People – A Practical Guide for Mental Health Professionals
Rainbow people in New Zealand face a range of complex issues, and mental health professionals don’t always receive specific training about their needs and experiences. This guide is for anyone who provides mental health support in Aotearoa, including (but not limited to) counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, tohunga (Māori healers), social workers, mental health nurses, and GPs. It will also be helpful for youth workers, group facilitators, and peer supporters.
Be There
A collaborative project between InsideOUT & rainbow organisations across Aotearoa to provide guidance and resources for parents, family and whānau of rainbow young people. Visit be-there.nz
OUT ON THE SHELVES
Out on the Shelves is an online resource that lists books from around the world with rainbow themes and characters. It aims to support all rainbow young people to find stories that represent their identities in positive and affirming ways.
SpeakOUT
InsideOUT runs a radio show, SpeakOUT – with Wellington Access Radio on 106.1FM, playing live on Wednesday 6pm every fortnight. Speak Out covers local and international news and events, interviews and discussion, music by LGBTQIA+ artists, reviews, live performances and more. Speak OUT is also uploaded online as a podcast that you can listen to here: Spotify, Podbean, Apple Music.
Posters
A collection of rainbow posters from InsideOUT Kōaro and other rainbow organisations across Aotearoa that can be downloaded and printed for free.
National Resources & Organisations
National organisation based in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland providing peer support, information and resources for rainbow young people.
Confidential, free, all-ages phone support line answered by trained rainbow volunteers every evening from 6pm – 9pm (0800 688 5463). OutLine also offers paid in-person and video rainbow specialist counselling as well as an Auckland-based trans and non-binary peer support service. Check out their resource for families,
A resource hub for takatāpui people, their whānau and communities.
A Wellington-based nationwide organisation run by and for transgender people, including binary and non-binary, intersex, and irawhiti takatāpui. They provide resources, information and one-to-one peer support to transgender people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds.
Intersex-led education, lobbying, advocacy and peer support around Aotearoa welcoming all people with intersex variations, as well as their whānau and friends. Keep up with Intersex Aotearoa on Facebook
Naming New Zealand is an initiative to inform, support and financially assist queer, gender diverse, takatāpui and intersex young people to update their identity documents to correctly reflect their identities.
A website made by and for parents, caregivers and whānau of trans and gender diverse children in Aotearoa NZ. NZPOTC provides advocacy and peer support and facilities families’ access to good quality information, research, guidance, and relevant support services. Their support group includes parents, guardians and caregivers of all ages, ethncities and personal and professional backgrounds. To join, visit their Portal Facebook Group.
FreedHearts Aotearoa New Zealand
Parents of LGBT Youth Portal Facebook Group
Help! Is My Child Transgender?
A resource created by Gender Minorities Aotearoa. They also have a link to many more resources here.
Families in Transition
This is a great resource from Toronto for family members supporting a child through transition.
Intersex Youth Aotearoa
National Intersex youth community network run by Intersex Awareness New Zealand
Transgender and Intersex NZ
All ages Facebook support group
Regional Groups & Organisations
National organisation based in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland providing peer support, information and resources for rainbow young people.
Confidential, free, all-ages phone support line answered by trained rainbow volunteers every evening from 6pm – 9pm (0800 688 5463). OutLine also offers paid in-person and video rainbow specialist counselling as well as an Auckland-based trans and non-binary peer support service. Check out their resource for families,
Providing resources, events and safe spaces for a more inclusive Whanganui
Nelson youth group
Tranzform
A Wellington-based support and social group for gender-diverse young people that meets once every two weeks, run by OuterSpaces
WhangaReinbow
Whangarei youth group
School’s Out
Wellington youth group
Rainbow Fale
South Auckland-based group that provides support and education for the Rainbow Pasifika community. Their Facebook group can be found here
WaQuY
Waikato youth group
Q-Topia
Christchurch youth group
Spectrum – Marlborough
Marlborough youth group
Chroma Initiative
Southland youth group
Alphabet Soup
Dunedin youth group