New Zealand official statistics bureau uses third gender category first time in world

Gender diverse"will join"male" and "female" categories in a new gender-identity classification standard released by Statistics New Zealand on Friday.

According to the national statistic agency, the new classification records the identity of all people, including those who see themselves as different from male or female, and forms an integral part of the Statistical Standard for Gender Identity.

Statistics New Zealand said in a statement, gender identity is about how a person identifies himself, as wholly male, wholly female, or having aspects of either or both. It is different from a person's biological sex. The new standards are used to help organizations plan how best to collect the information they need. "The term gender diverse is fairly new but we believe that over time it will be widely used and accepted. We recommend this term for official statistical use,"said Statistics NZ's classifications manager Jo-anne Allan."We believe the gender diverse population see it as a step towards being seen, counted and understood."

Allan said Statistics NZ worked with a wide range of government and community groups to finalize the standard and the terminology.

The new standard is the first in the world for gender identity information.

Use of the statistical standard is not mandatory but several New Zealand's government organizations are considering how to implement it. Statistics NZ is also considering how to use the standard across its information collection. Endi