Diversity Liaison Officers (DLOs) are located throughout New Zealand to provide liaison between Police and those in our community who identify as LGBTQIA+, Takatāpui or MVPFAFF* (rainbow communities) and their whanau.
We have Police officers and employees who work in a variety of roles who also hold a portfolio as a DLO. If you would like to speak with us, please message us and we will get back to you as soon as possible during work hours.
What we can do
- Help answer your queries, provide advice, or explain processes.
- Link you in with appropriate Police personnel or support groups.
- Respond to invitations to attend Pride events or similar activities.
What we can't do
-
We cannot interfere in the court process, but we may be able to support you through the court process.
Contact a DLO
Start by emailing DLOs@police.govt.nz with your details and what part of Aotearoa you’re in, and we’ll connect you with a local DLO.
Trust & Confidence
What are we doing to improve the Rainbow Communities’ Trust & Confidence in NZ Police?
- Raising Rainbow awareness for Police staff
- Improving services to gender diverse people
- Connecting with rainbow communities
- Creating a safer organisation for our rainbow staff
If you would like to know more about how we are doing this, please email us on DLOs@police.govt.nz.
Praise & Complaints
Please contact us if you have a praise or complaint you would like to share with us.
We are always looking for continuous improvement opportunities.
Community Support
Wherever we can we work in partnership with government and rainbow community agencies, most of whom also offer advocacy and support services.
You can connect with some of them:
- Adhikaar Aotearoa - provides support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ people of colour, particularly South Asian
- Burnett Foundation - provides HIV tests, free counselling, HIV prevention and research in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch
- Body Positive - a peer support organisation providing care and support to all people living with HIV/AIDS in New Zealand
- CARN - The Cross Agency Rainbow Network includes representatives from different agencies across the public service
- Counting Ourselves - an anonymous health survey designed by and for trans and non-binary people living in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Gender Minorities Aotearoa - a nationwide transgender support organisation, run by and for transgender people
- Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Right Commission - Aotearoa New Zealand's National Human Rights Institution
- InsideOUT - works to make Aotearoa a safer place for young people of minority genders and sexualities
- NZPC - a New Zealand wide organisation run by sex workers for sex workers, advocating for their rights, health, and well-being
- OutLine - provides a phone service and other services supporting LGBTI+ including conversion practices survivors
- Rainbow Path NZ - an advocacy and peer support group for the rights of Rainbow refugees and asylum seekers in Aotearoa
- Rainbow Youth - provides information, advocacy, and support for queer & gender diverse (LGBT) young people in Aotearoa
- Takatāpui NZ - a resource hub for Takatāpui and their whānau
Plus, there are countless local rainbow pride groups around Aotearoa - contact us at DLOs@police.govt.nz and we’ll put you in touch!
Resources & Links
- Hate crime - link to information on what to do about hate crime, and our hate crime response, Te Raranga (The Weave)
- Crowded Places - a link information about how we can work together to protect crowded places from attack
- School Community Services - a link to our School Portal
- MPES - Māori, Pasifika, and Ethnic Services - connect via our Local Contacts page
- View / download Information about family violence in rainbow relationships (PDF 298KB)
- Kids and Gender Toolbox for Parents
- The Adhikaar Report - Adhikaar Aotearoa’s first of its kind, community consultation, that sought to understand the unique experiences that LGBT+ South Asians face in Aotearoa
- Counting Ourselves 2018 Survey - the community report on the first comprehensive national research about the health and wellbeing of trans and non-binary people in Aotearoa New Zealand
- Youth ’19 Transgender Young People Report - key findings for transgender and diverse gender secondary school students
Youth ’19 Young People Attracted to Same/Multiple Sexes Report - key findings for same- and multiple-sex attracted secondary school students - What are PRONOUNS and why they are important? How language can create good, supportive, understanding environments for trans and non-binary people
- Te Puka Ārahi i te Reo Tuwhera mō te Ranga Aniwaniwa | Rainbow inclusive language guide -explains how to use inclusive language and the importance of doing so, including a glossary of common rainbow terms - Glossary - Diversity and Inclusion
*Rainbow communities:
Is an umbrella term for all people whose sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and/or sex characteristics place them outside culturally mainstream categories.
Related information
Police Diversity Liaison Officers (DLOs) in Tairāwhiti raised the Rainbow flag over Gisborne Police Station to mark the start of Pride Month in Aotearoa. (Feb 2023)
- 17 Oct 2023 | Tenth victim identified in gay bashing case as rainbow officers offer support - The Press
- 18 Jun 2023 | Policing with Pride—What’s in a Rainbow Car? - New Thinking
- Jan 2023 issue | Transitioning while working at NZ Police - Express