Karetai Wood-Bodley & Co

10/10/2025

🌺 This week, our global Rainbow family mourns the loss of Tuisina Ymania Brown, a powerful trans, fa’afāfine, and Pacific leader.

Ymania and I served together as Co-Chairs of ILGA Oceania and on the ILGA World Board. She guided me when I was new to international advocacy, always treating me as an equal, never as a junior. Her nurturing nature, her courage, and her faith-based advocacy for openness and inclusion made her a leader unlike any other.

Her passing is a profound loss, but her legacy is vast: in Rainbow movements, in UN spaces, in decriminalisation campaigns across the Pacific, and in every person she inspired.

Rest in power, Ymania. You leave behind a movement braver, stronger, and more inclusive because of you.
🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🌐

https://www.kwbandco.com/blog/ymania-brown-a-life-of-courage-faith-and-intersectional-justice

14/06/2023

Six years after the 2017 petition to Parliament the self-identification laws contained in the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021 come into force today.

Trans and non-binary New Zealanders can now finally update their New Zealand birth certificates via an easy administrative process to reflect their gender identity rather than go via the Family Court.

There is still work to be done to ensure that trans and non-binary folks born overseas are afforded the same rights.

For more information visit: https://lnkd.in/ejE6JB52

If you have questions about the new process or need help applying or having documents certified and statutory declarations witnessed our team are happy to help get in contact at www.iconiqlegal.com

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

To change the s*x marker on your birth certificate, you must complete a statutory declaration and apply to Births, Deaths and Marriages.

21/12/2022

We wish all of our clients and supporters a restful and safe holiday season. Thank you for supporting us this year - we could have not have done it without you!

Our team are looking forward to a well deserved break after a busy year and we know you are too!

From close of business today until we reopen fully on 9th January 2023 we will be operating on non-statutory holiday days with one person on call and available between 1-4pm.

If you require urgent assistance during this time please slide into our DMs and the on-call person will contact you ASAP.

12/09/2022

We so pleased to announce that Dr Huhana Hickey MNZM is joining our sister company .legal.advocates as Special Counsel.

08/09/2022

Our businesses are closed today as a mark of respect for the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

10/07/2022

Kia ora friends

Our friend Cole Hampton fondly known for his character Pam from Bulls passed away on Thursday.

As a result Access Legal and Queerly Legal
will be closed for business tomorrow 11 July 2022 to allow our team time to grieve and reflect on a life lived fully and lost too soon.

Naku, nā
KWB & Co

17/12/2021

Our businesses Access Legal and Queerly Legal are now running at reduced capacity until we reopen fully 25 January 2021.

We had an end of year break up brunch via Google Meet to celebrate our people and thank them for their hard mahi since end of August.

We did an awards ceremony to recognise our stars ⭐️

Most Valuable Team Member: William McMaster
Rising Star: Oli Morphew
Team Player - Isabella Daly
Class Clown - Frankie Karetai Wood-Bodley
Busy Bee - Katherine Blow
Walking Encyclopedia - Betty Orr-Mcfaull
No 8 wire - Pranay Singh

Over the last 4 months we have served over 50 clients from the rainbow and/or disabled community.

We are so proud of our people and what they’ve achieved!

13/12/2021

From 17 December 2021 to 25 January 2022 we are taking a well deserved break!

We are continuing to operate but at significantly reduced staff levels.

We’ve grown significantly over the last 4 months and it has been full on.

Our people are tired and deserve time to replenish their wairua and spending time with loved ones.

Heck our directors deserve to finally go on their honeymoon!

26/08/2021

Our Chief Legal Advocate Frankie Emmett Karetai Wood-Bodley spoke to our friends Express Magazine about how to survive rāhui. Check it out here!

Express talks to notable members of our LGBTQ+ community to find out how they are doing in Level 4 Lockdown and hear their tips for maintain

17/08/2021

New Zealand is now at Alert Level 4.

Whether you are in business, working or studying this will impact you and your whānau.

If you need advice during this time Frankie Emmett Karetai Wood-Bodley is available and willing to assist so please get in touch.