Rainbow (LGBTQIA+) students: services and resources

New Zealand entered into COVID-19 alert level 2 on Thursday 14 May. The Government are continuing to review the situation. The main message is still for people to stay at home.

This page is being updated regularly, so do check back from time to time.

At AUT, our gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and intersex (LGBTQIA+) communities are known as the rainbow community. We offer services and resources for students who identify with diverse sexual orientations, sex and gender identities.

Legal rights of rainbow people in NZ

In New Zealand, rainbow people have legal rights to live freely as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning. The Human Rights Act 1993 outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender. The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill 2013 enables adult couples of any gender to marry, including same-sex and different sex couples.

Services and facilities

Rainbow orientation lunches

The information for these will be updated as soon as it is available.

Transgender name change process

If you are a transgender student and need to change your name, download the name change process document below.

Download name change pr​o​cess​

All gender bathrooms​

All AUT campuses have all gender bathrooms.

Download list of all gender bathroom locations

Support people and contacts

There are a range of people and services you can contact for help and support at AUT.

​Counsellors

Counselling is the process of privately talking thro​ugh anything that concerns you. A counsellor will listen to you sensitively, without judgement, and will try and see things from your point of view. The Rainbow Community Coordinator can help you find a counsellor to suit your needs.

If you’re worried about your safety or the safety of someone else and you need urgent help, call:

  • ​​​111 for emergency services
  • 0800 800 717 for Crisis Team (if you or someone you know is at risk of self-harm or needs urgent mental health support)
  • +64 9 522 2999 or 0800 543 354 (outside Auckland) for LifeLine
  • 0800 688 5463 for Outline (24 hour Rainbow counselling service)​

Rainbow Community Coordinator

We have a dedicated Rainbow Community Coordinator to support you at AUT. Their role is to:

  • ​Support AUT's Rainbow students by offering information, counselling, and referrals to other services
  • Enable social inclusion through the Out@AUT network
  • Promote Out@AUT during orientation, club days, and diversity week
  • Provide opportunities for rainbow students to participate in events like the Pride Festival, Pink Shirt Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
  • Help staff understand the needs of rainbow students by offering staff training opportunities
  • Work collaboratively with rainbow community providers for the benefit of AUT students.

Harassment prevention: who to contact

Bullying and harassment aren't acceptable at AUT. If you feel harassed, don't keep it to yourself - there are people here to support you:

Support for Māori students

Māori students can get in touch with a dedicated team to use a range of services.

Māori student support

Safe sex and sexual health

If you’re sexually active, it’s important that you protect your health and that of your partner/s from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.

For any questions contact:

​Free condoms

You can pick up free condoms from:

  • ​​​Rainbow student room in WB212
  • AUTSA office
  • Health, Counselling and Wellbeing

Rainbow (LGBTQIA+) resources

You can access a number of resources for the rainbow community.

Express Magazine

You can pick up this free magazine for the rainbow community at all AUT campuses:

  • City Campus: Outside AUTSA, and in the rainbow student room in WB212
  • North Campus: Main entry to AS building (cafeteria)
  • South Campus: ​Library foyer, MA building

Gay Express website

Rainbow Auckland (formerly GABA) Rainbow Auckland welcomes students and offers members networking and social events. Students have free membership. Rainbow Auckland also works for the community by raising funds which are then distributed as grants, AUT scholarships, and awards.

Other LGBTQIA+ websites

Student FAQs

Contact us

Rainbow Community Coordinator
+64 9 921 9999 ext 6998
rainbow@aut.ac.nz

Events and groups for rainbow students

Check out the social events and groups for our rainbow community – alongside the student support services we offer, these are another way to help you make the most of your time at AUT.

Rainbow events and groups​​

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