A guide for visitors
Reece, former Mr Gay New Zealand
New Zealand is overall a pretty gay-friendly country, with gay and lesbian people treated fairly throughout society. Gay and lesbian people have the rights to civil unions, and gay scenes flourish throughout New Zealand.
The main gay centres are Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, all hosting gay venues such as bars and nightclubs, sex-on-site-venues, and so on.
You’ll also find established gay scenes in many of the smaller centres such as Hamilton, Palmerston North, and Dunedin.
Gay and lesbian people in rural New Zealand usually meet each other through the internet, and it’s not uncommon to see same sex couples holding hands in some of the larger centres.
Laws in New Zealand
Homosexuality has been legal in New Zealand since 1986, and same sex couples have been able to have civil unions – which are very similar to marriage – since 2004. The age of consent in New Zealand is 16, which applies for heterosexual and same sex couples.
The drinking age is 18, which includes the purchase of alcohol and entry to bars and nightclubs.
New Zealanders are protected from discrimination based on sexuality.
Getting to New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the most isolated countries in the world, but it is serviced regularly by a number of major airlines, from almost any destination.
Flying to New Zealand takes around 3 hours from Sydney, 10 hours from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok, 12 hours from Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Los Angeles, and around 24 hours from London.
New Zealand is also a 3-4 hour hop from many Pacific Island nations such as Tonga, Samoa, and Niue (which can only be reached from New Zealand).
For more information on visiting our beautiful country, check out Go Gay New Zealand.
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