Today the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill will have its second reading in the house.

Te Pāti Māori will be supporting this bill and recognise the importance of the proposed changes, especially those that seek to remove barriers to change registered gender on NZ birth certificates.

"We support our many whānau who identify as part of the rainbow community. On the marae, takatāpui are whānau, we don't let labels interfere with how we see each other in our relationships” said Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi.

“We acknowledge the work that has gone into this bill, and it’s been a long time coming. We are hoping this will help takatāpui feel they can be themselves."

"What we are trying to do is break down barriers, to start removing the stigma. The sooner we do that, the better this country will be."

“How takatāpui choose to express their identities is up to them, it’s not up to us to decide what that should look like. It’s our job to tautoko and awhi them, as takatāpui are our whānau” said Mr Waititi.

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