Support for legal name change

Trans and gender-diverse students’ experiences and Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland research have identified that use of preferred rather than legal names is key to the provision of a safe and inclusive environment for trans and gender-diverse students.

You can request financial support for a legal name change by filling out the form below.

If you have any other questions, or need other assistance with the process, you can reach our team by emailing legalnamechange@auckland.ac.nz.

If and when you feel comfortable doing so, you may change your preferred names in the Identity Management System at iam.auckland.ac.nz/identity. This change will instantly propagate through most University systems and be the name used when using Canvas. Our Rainbow Support Adviser can help you with this process.   

Our Rainbow Support Adviser looks after the legal name change email and supports the funding process. They will provide you with confidential support throughout the process.

In your request, please provide the following:

•  Your Student ID number
•  A screenshot of an official bank communication or bank statement that includes your bank logo, full name and account number
•  Details of which name change documents you need financial support with

You can expect to receive a response within a few days to setup a meeting with you, either on Zoom or in-person to discuss your requirements in more detail. You are welcome to bring a support person with you to the meeting if you wish to do so.

The information you supply is protected by the Privacy Act, which places strict requirements on the use and disclosure of personal information. 

Once your application has been submitted, and approved by our Finance Team, the University will transfer funds into your bank account. You can then use the money to pay for the required name change documents.

You will need to provide our team with the relevant receipts within two months of obtaining the funding.

We can also help you change your name and UPI within our university systems. You can find out more via the ‘Changing your name on your university record’ webpage, or by asking our Rainbow Support Adviser here. 

There are many different supports out there for our trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex students, in different areas whether its academic, physical and mental health.

Our Rainbow Support Adviser takes a holistic, personalised approach to student wellbeing for our rainbow community, offering 1:1 and group opportunities to discuss issues that might impact student success. Meet them here.

The Te Papa Manaaki team is well connected, both with other staff in the University and outside of the University community. Feel free to book in to one of the Case Managers whenever you need support and they will link you up with the most appropriate services. Find out more here.