Rainbow students at Massey

kaimahi being encouraged to use gender-inclusive language
growing connections between internal and external rainbow groups and services
ongoing advocacy and encouragement for positive and inclusive change
Rainbow Tick training for kaimahi
rainbow leadership and organising training for students
all-gender bathrooms, and identity-based bathrooms on each campus
halls of residence that provide accommodation inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations – including some with rainbow-focussed areas and initiatives.

Rainbow

When we say ‘rainbow’, we’re referring to all people of minority sexualities, genders, and diverse sex characteristics, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual individuals.

Rainbow is an umbrella term that takes from the history of the rainbow pride flag, which is often used to promote LGBTQIA+ inclusion in wider society.

See a glossary of rainbow terms and more at Gender Minorities Aotearoa

Takatāpui

When we say ‘takatāpui’, we’re referring to people who identify both under the wider rainbow umbrella (LGBTQIA+), as well as Māori. Takatāpui is a term that acknowledges one’s sexual and gender identity alongside their whakapapa as being Māori.

For many takatāpui individuals, a person’s sexuality, gender, and sex characteristics are inherited from their ancestors, and so identifying as takatāpui rather than queer, for example, is a way to acknowledge one’s whakapapa and position within society as Māori.

Learn more about takatāpui and their whānau at Takatāpui.nz.

Community

At Massey, you can get involved with a number of opportunities and find like-minded students and staff.

Kāhui Irarau

E Koekoe te kōkō, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū – the tūī squawks, the kākā chatters, the kererū coos.

Connecting rainbow and takatāpui communities at Massey University, Kāhui Irarau is a social platform at Massey currently available via Facebook and Instagram.

‘Kāhui’ refers to a grouping, such as a flock or gathering, while ‘irarau’ refers to one’s life principle, and more recently, to a gene and the gender of a person. Kāhui Irarau draws on the whakatukī (proverb) above, which alludes to the idea that just like the birds of Aotearoa, humans also have individualistic traits.

Kāhui Irarau was gifted its name by Massey PhD candidate Ngawiki-Aroha Rewita, Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu and Te Whakatōhea through support and discussion with Associate Professor Hone Morris and Diversity & Inclusion Advisor Connor McLeod.

Find more information and connect with Kāhui Irarau

UniQ

UniQ is a rainbow and takatāpui diversity group that operates on each campus. It is run by and for queer students (and allies). Join in for social meet-ups and events, and receive advice, advocacy, and support. You can check out what your local UniQ group is up to and how to contact them via your student association, Te Tira Ahu Pae.

Te Tira Ahu Pae

RĀTĀ Group

The Rainbow and Takatāpui Advisory Group is made up by student and staff members committed to rainbow and takatāpui community development here at Massey. The Group meets monthly, and expressions of interest and inquiries can be sent to rainbow@massey.ac.nz.

Rainbow rooms

Each Massey campus hosts a rainbow room facilitated by Massey's student association, Te Tira Ahu Pae, to provide safe spaces for our rainbow students to connect, study, and relax. All rooms come equipped with comfortable seating, desks for studying, and rainbow-specific resources.

Albany Campus

Located in room SC1.06, Student Central
Includes a kitchenette and television

Manawatū Campus

Located in room 2.21, Level 2, Student Services Building
Includes a community wardrobe and balcony
Massey Rainbow Room on Instagram

Wellington Campus

Located directly off Co-Lab, Level C, Block 9
Includes a queer literature shelf and shared clothing rack

Rainbow student representatives

Four part-time rainbow student representatives are here at Massey to engage with their respective communities.

Diversity and inclusion advisor

If you have any questions about rainbow advocacy and policy, or are keen to get more involved with rainbow and takatāpui initiatives at the University, you can contact the diversity and inclusion advisor via rainbow@massey.ac.nz.

Support and advocacy

Some people are exploring their identities for the first time at uni. If you feel unsure about your identity or are getting unhelpful or unwanted reactions when expressing who you are, it can help to talk to other people with similar experiences.

Your rainbow wellbeing advisor, campus student association, rainbow student clubs, representatives, and other groups can help directly with support and advocacy. Or they can put you in touch with local organisations that know about rainbow-friendly accommodation, health care and other services.

Rainbow wellbeing advisor

Massey has a rainbow wellbeing advisor available to help you navigate services such as health and counselling, provide general guidance, and support you through your studies. You can contact the advisor via studentcare@massey.ac.nz.

Students' association

Massey’s students' association Te Tira Ahu Pae is independent of the university and is run by students, for students. Get in touch for free and confidential support.

Te Tira Ahu Pae

Student advocate

Professional student or welfare advocates offer practical advice and support in any area that affects your welfare and wellbeing. This includes harassment and discrimination on campus from staff or other students.

Find out about your student advocate

Transitioning gender

If you’re transitioning gender, or thinking about it, we want to support you as much as we can.

Students are welcome to update their student records, or take some leave. You may want to talk with staff you're in contact with about changing your gender pronouns or your transition. For example, so a lecturer doesn't use the wrong name.

The University also offers financial support for things like procuring new legal name documents. You can apply for this under our Emergency Financial Support Grant.

Emergency Financial Support Grant

Studying while transitioning can be hard. We offer a free professional counselling service for students who may want it.

Counselling services

University services and policies

Everyone at Massey needs to feel comfortable being themselves.

You have the right to live free of harassment and to be treated with dignity and respect. If you're harassed by anyone for being yourself, we'll support you.

Get help if you're being harassed

Massey offers free professional counselling and mental health services to students. You can talk to registered counsellors about any thoughts, feelings and concerns, including identity and sexuality. Counselling is confidential and you decide what to share and with whom.

Find out more about counselling

Massey University is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. We welcome rainbow staff and have had Rainbow Tick certification since 2017 with this last updated in 2022.

Massey offers rainbow training modules as part of our diversity and inclusion training for staff.

Other resources

Visit the websites of these national diversity organisations for all kinds of friendship, fun, advocacy, support and practical help especially for rainbow students and young people.

Many of these national organisations have local centres you can visit in person and they list local organisations on their websites.

RainbowYOUTH

A charity working with queer, gender-diverse, takatāpui and intersex youth, their friends, whānau and wider communities. RainbowYOUTH provides services, resources and advocacy across the country for young people aged between 13 to 27. RainbowYOUTH runs the I'm Local project to support and connect queer and gender-diverse youth all over Aotearoa New Zealand.

See more about RainbowYOUTH

Find out about the I'm Local project

Gender Minorities Aotearoa

Gender Minorities Aotearoa offers information, advocacy, and wraparound support for transgender people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. GMA is run by and for transgender people, including non-binary, intersex, and takatāpui gender-diverse people.

Explore the Gender Minorities Aotearoa website

Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand

Intersex Youth Aotearoa is a campaign that runs alongside Intersex Trust Aotearoa NZ (ITANZ) to provide information, and connect and support intersex young people and their whānau.

Find out about the Be There Campaign

Naming New Zealand

Resources to help transgender, gender-diverse and intersex youth update their identity documents to correctly reflect their sex and gender.

Visit the Naming New Zealand website

OUTline

A free phone service for LGBTIQ+ people and friends. Talk to a member of the LGBTIQ+ community who’s trained to listen and answer your questions.

Call 0800 688 5463 from 6 to 9pm every day.

Get details at the OUTline website

Burnett Foundation:

The Burnett Foundation is working towards an Aotearoa with zero HIV transmissions where people living with or affected by HIV flourish. We offer free HIV testing.

See more about the Burnett Foundation