Score = Legal 60/60 + Scene 27/40 = 87/100
New Zealand ranks #6 of 208 countries and territories in the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, with a composite score of 87/100 — a legal safety component of 60/60 and a scene score of 27/40. Updated 2026-08-17 · release 2026.3.
| Criminalization | Legal |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● Yes (marriage equality) |
| Anti-discrimination | ● Yes |
| Gender recognition | Self-ID — statutory self-declaration, no medical gatekeeping |
| Enforcement reality | Protective — the state actively protects LGBTQ+ people |
Research note: BDMRR self-ID effective June 2023 — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
| LGBTQ+ venues listed | 119 |
|---|---|
| Dedicated gay bars | 2 |
| Gay saunas | 8 |
| Gay bars per million | 0.38 |
| Saunas per million | 1.54 |
| Events per million | 20.58 |
| Cities with a scene | 9 |
| Pride parades | 4 |
| Queer film festivals | 0 |
| Coverage grade | A |
| Scene score | 27/40 (raw scene index 68/100) |
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119 venues tracked in the frozen 2026.3 dataset (all categories) · 30 browsable venue pages in the live directory today.
New Zealand is rated Welcoming on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, scoring 87/100 overall with a legal safety component of 60/60. On enforcement reality, the state actively protects LGBTQ+ people.
Yes. Same-sex marriage is legal in New Zealand. Overall legal status: Legal.
Yes. GayOut lists 119 LGBTQ+ venues in New Zealand, including 2 dedicated gay bars, across 9 cities with a scene, and tracks 4 Pride parades there.
Auckland has the largest documented LGBTQ+ scene in New Zealand, with 10 venues listed in the GayOut directory, followed by Riverhead (7 venues).
GayOut currently lists 2 dedicated gay bars and 8 gay saunas in New Zealand, and tracks 4 Pride parades there. Counts exclude venues that are merely gay-friendly.