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Knowles v Registrar General of Births Deaths and Marriages [2019] NZFC 5807

Published 22 October 2019

Application for declaration for change of sex on birth certificate — female to male — young person — transgender rights — name change — gender identity — Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act 1995, s 29. The applicant sought a declaration under s 29 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act (the Act) for a change of sex on the birth certificate of his child, from female to male. The applicant's child was 17 and had been living as a male for over three years. The young person's mother had signed a statutory declaration consenting to the change of sex on the birth certificate. The Judge met with the young person and was satisfied that he was a young man whose birth certificate should reflect the reality of his life. The young person had been receiving medical treatment in the form of hormonal medication and was saving to one day have a mastectomy. The declaration was granted. The young person's name on the birth certificate was also to be changed. Judgment Date: 29 July 2019. * * * Note: names have been changed to comply with legal requirements. * * *