This means that a person can complain to the Human Rights Commission that they
have had unlawful conversion practices performed on them.
A person can also contact police to lay a complaint. The police may then decide to lay
criminal charges. Police have Diversity Liaison Officers, who you may wish to contact in
the first instance.8 Police can also make referrals to Victim Support.
It is important to note that contacting the Human Rights Commission to lay a
complaint is separate to and does not involve the police or criminal justice system.
The processes that the Human Rights Commission offers will not lead to criminal
convictions or penalties against the perpetrator. You can choose to contact Police as
well as coming to the Commission, or just take one of those paths.
How our complaints and mediation services work
If you think you have experienced discrimination because of your gender or
experienced conversion practices, you can contact the Human Rights Commission for
information, support, or to make a complaint.
The Human Rights Commission offers free and confidential services for individuals,
Tangata Whenua, schools, employees, employers, and the public sector. We can
provide:
• Dispute resolution for complaints covered by the Human Rights Act
• Wayfinding to answer questions and provide information
to help people understand their rights
• Community peacebuilding for people affected by
harmful speech
The Office of Human Rights Proceedings can provide
free legal representation to people who want to take
unlawful discrimination complaints to the Human Rights
Review Tribunal. You can apply for legal representation
after your complaint to the Commission has been
closed.
8
https://www.police.govt.nz/contact-us/local-contacts/diversity-liaison-officers.