Waimakariri District Council
Captured
Q1: Do you provide communal single-sex changing and showering facilities?
Yes, the Council provides communal single sex changing and showering facilities.
Q2: Do you provide single occupancy changing and showering facilities? If so, how many at each site?
The Council has the following single occupancy changing and showering facilities: • Kaiapoi Aquatic Facility (Kaiapoi) – Three • Dudley Aquatic Facility (Rangiora) - Three • Oxford Aquatic Facility (Oxford) – One
Q3: Please provide any policies or procedures that apply to trans-identified people who wish to use the changing and showering facilities in your sites.
The Council’s Aquatic Facilities, consistent with many others across New Zealand, adhere to the guidance issued by Recreation Aotearoa (Attached – Attachment A) regarding the inclusion of transgender and gender-diverse individuals.
In line with this framework, the Council is committed to accommodating the needs of transgender people alongside those of all other patrons.
Transgender individuals are entitled to access public facilities, including changing rooms and swimming pools, in accordance with their gender identity.
Discrimination based on gender identity is unlawful, and it is a Council priority to ensure that every person is treated with dignity and respect.
Q4: How are your different changing and showering facilities labelled and described?
The changing and showering facilities are labelled:
• Male Change;
• Female Change; and
• Family Change – However, as part of a broader signage initiative, the Council is evaluating the renaming of the ‘family changing room’ to a more inclusive designation, such as ‘private change.’
Q5: At your sites, which changing room and showering facilities is a trans-identified male permitted to use?
Transgender individuals are entitled to use the changing facilities that correspond with their gender identity. In circumstances where a person requests guidance or expresses uncertainty, staff may advise that private changing spaces are available as an alternative.
Q6: If applicable, do your facilities allow trans-identifying males to attend Women Only swim sessions?
N/A
Our Verdict
Another Council who thinks that gender identity is protected under the HRA.