About Rainbow Youth
Rainbow Youth is an Auckland-based organisation providing support, information, advocacy and education for queer young people (aged between 13 and 28) and their friends, family and whanau.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, the word “queer” has been reclaimed by young people as a positive term that includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, takataapui, fa’afaine, intersex, asexual and queer-identified people in our communities and familes.
At Rainbow Youth we aim to foster a safe, inclusive, accepting, diverse family environment. We are drug-free, smoke-free and alcohol-free.
Our motto
Rainbow Youth’s motto is Know Who You Are, Be Who You Are.
Kevin Haunui and Elizabeth Kerekere from Tiwhanawhana Trust in Wellington have gifted us a version of our motto in te reo Maori: Whaia to ake ngakaunui, i te pono, i te marama. Simply translated, this means: Follow your desires with truth and clarity.
Core services and activities
Drop-in centre
Our drop-in centre in central Auckland provides a safe place for queer youth, their friends and families and members of the community to meet our staff and access information (including our book and DVD library) and support.
Peer social support groups
We run regular get-togethers where youth members can meet people and socialise in a safe environment.
More about Rainbow Youth groups
Partnering with schools and tertiary institutions
We work with schools and tertiary institutions to provide resources and information on sexuality and gender identity. We also have staff members who present diversity workshops for students and/or teachers.