Hi there. In 2010, 2% of HIV diagnoses were for 15-19 year old gay and bisexual men; this is consistent with the HIV epidemic over previous years. However, 30% of HIV diagnoses in 2010 were for gay and bisexual men in the 20-29 age group so men under 30 are a priority for HIV prevention initiatives.

Gay and bisexual men are overwhelmingly affected by HIV in NZ. Of HIV infection that has occurred in NZ over the last 10 years, 77% has been among gay and bisexual men. Therefore the NZAF's HIV Prevention Plan 2009-2014 has a goal specifically related to increasing condom use for younger men; Goal 3 is to increase rates of condom use for first anal sex between men. The best scientific research available shows that men who use a condom the first time they have anal sex with another man are very likely to continue using condoms for the rest of their sexual life; known as a 'condom career'. Increasing rates of condom use for young gay and bisexual men will have the flow-on effect of decreasing new HIV diagnoses.

The Get it On! programme is the NZAF’s social marketing programme aimed specifically at gay and bisexual guys and is now engaging with more young gay and bisexual men than ever before. Hits to http://www.getiton.co.nz currently sit at around 14,000 per month.

Early indications are that this clear commitment to increased rates of condom use among young gay and bisexual men is beginning to be effective, however epidemiology is measured over years not months so we will have a better understanding if this approach is working by June 2012 when internal and external evaluations of our HIV prevention programming has been completed.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. HIV can not be transmitted via skin-to-skin contact so there is no risk in the situation you have described. HIV can only be transmitted via blood to blood contact, unprotected anal or vaginal sex, sharing needles and through childbirth.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. Unfortunately we are restricted from directly advising on immigration policy, so we would need to direct you to the Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.dia.govt.nz/) for visa information, and Immigration New Zealand (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/) for citizenship information; both websites have contact information should you wish to talk to them over the phone. There is also a website called 'HIV Travel' which may be of interest; http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=133

In terms of HIV healthcare in New Zealand, we do have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) which would allow citizens of those countries free access to HIV treatment, including antiretroviral (ARV) medication in New Zealand. For more information on healthcare for immigrants to New Zealand, check out this link: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/eligibility-reciprocalagreements

We hope this information has helped.

- NZAF official response

Hi. The only disease or condition which currently automatically results in the refusal of entry for migrants to Australia is active tuberculosis (TB), so you will not be refused entry to Australia based on your HIV status. New Zealand and Australia have a reciprocal healthcare arrangement, so if you are a New Zealand citizen and hold a New Zealand passport, you will be afforded full benefits of the Australian healthcare system. This includes access to funded antiretrovirals (ARVs). Usually there is a stand-down period of 6 months before a New Zealand citizen can gain full access to the Australian healthcare system, so if you are currently on ARVs we would suggest that you take a 3 month supply with you, plus a prescription for a further 3 month supply; you should be able to get a New Zealand issued prescription filled in Australia. You will also need to register with a S100 prescribing GP when you arrive in Australia. Unlike New Zealand where only an HIV specialist can issue ARV prescriptions, Australian S100 GPs are authorised to manage all HIV healthcare needs on behalf of their clients. We hope this helps.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. Yes, this is possible. The only disease or condition which currently automatically results in the refusal of entry for migrants to Australia is active tuberculosis (TB), so you will not be refused entry to Australia based on your HIV status. New Zealand and Australia have a reciprocal healthcare arrangement, so if you are a New Zealand citizen and hold a New Zealand passport, you will be afforded full benefits of the Australian healthcare system. This includes access to funded antiretrovirals (ARVs). Usually there is a stand-down period of 6 months before a New Zealand citizen can gain full access to the Australian healthcare system, so if you are currently on ARVs we would suggest that you take a 3 month supply with you, plus a prescription for a further 3 month supply; you should be able to get a New Zealand issued prescription filled in Australia. You will also need to register with a S100 prescribing GP when you arrive in Australia. Unlike New Zealand where only an HIV specialist can issue ARV prescriptions, Australian S100 GPs are authorised to manage all HIV healthcare needs on behalf of their clients.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thank you for your question. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention website has an excellent section on HIV transmission that you would find very helpful - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/transmission.htm. The fourth topic from the bottom at this link talks about HIV transmission via mosquitos. Many reputable HIV research organisations have concluded studies that show no evidence whatsoever of HIV transmission via mosquitos or any other insect, so it is not possible that your father has acquired HIV from a mosquito that bit you. The risk of transmitting HIV through sharing eating utensils or drinking from the same glass is also extremely unlikely. There is a lot of research showing that saliva acts as a natural barrier to the HIV virus, so transmission of HIV via saliva is very low. Blisters are a known symptom of HIV but there is no reason to conclude that your father’s blisters represent a presence of HIV infection. HIV is transmitted through unprotected anal sex, direct blood to blood contact, breastfeeding, childbirth and sharing needles. Without giving your father an HIV test we could not confirm if he has acquired HIV, but we can confidently say that if you have not partaken in the above activities with your father, then he has not acquired HIV from you. Naturally this is a stressful experience for you so we would like to extend our support through our free and confidential counselling services, should you like to discuss this further with one of our support centre staff. We have centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and can provide services in many other locations around the country also. To find the centre closest to you click on ‘Our Services’ on the homepage.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. Unfortunately we are not in a position to directly advise on citizenship criteria or possible restrictions but we can advise that your best point of contact is the Department of Internal Affairs on 0800 22 51 51 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

- NZAF official response

We encourage non-discrimination in the workplace and have recently produced a resource outlining employees' rights. However, your question is specifically about the New Zealand Defence Force which may be subject to different regulations, so we recommend you should contact them directly: http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/

- NZAF official response

Antiretroviral medications for HIV are provided under Pharmac subsidy to New Zealand citizens and residents .If you have been prescribed this medication , it would be useful to bring a short supply with you, as you will need to see a HIV specialist here once you arrive to assess your condition and review your treatment options. When you arrive back in New Zealand we are of course available as a possible support, and would welcome your call on:
Auckland 09 309 5560
Wellington 04 381 6640
Christchurch 03 379 1953

- NZAF official response

In 2005, a legal precedent in New Zealand was established that the use of condoms discharged the legal duty on a person living with HIV to take ‘reasonable precautions’ to keep others safe from HIV transmission. This was ground breaking as it recognised the risk of HIV transmission is from not using condoms and not whether or not HIV status had been disclosed.“Reasonable precautions” to avoid sexual transmission of HIV include only engaging in sexual activities that involve a very low or no risk of transmission (e.g. oral sex, masturbation and kissing, using condoms for anal and vaginal sex).

However, it is worth noting that while a person living with HIV may avoid legal liability if they inform their partner of their status (disclosure) before sex, the partner must give explicit consent. If consent is not given, or considered to be given under duress, the person living with HIV might still be liable for prosecution and conviction, where no condoms have been used, even if there is no transmission of the HIV virus. For example consent can be disputed if alcohol, drugs or fear are involved.

It is very important to note however, that it is not the known or unknown HIV status of a sexual partner that puts the other at risk of HIV transmission – it is whether or not condoms and lube are used.

It’s also worth remembering that condoms and lube should be used every time you have sex, and both sexual partners share the responsibility for keeping themselves and each other safe from STIs. Relying on some to disclose the fact that they are living with HIV is unwise, as not everyone living with HIV is aware of their status.

You can find out more about HIV and criminal prosecutions on our Policy page.

If you or anyone you know is worried about any sexual encounter, the NZAF provide free, confidential testing for HIV, syphilis and other STIs. You can contact the NZAF here, or by calling 0800 80 AIDS (2437).

(NZAF Note - this answer was edited for clarity on 15 May 2010.)

- NZAF official response

440 members of the African communities have been diagnosed with HIV since 1996, with 29 being diagnosed in 2008. The great majority of these were infected overseas; most were HIV positive before arriving in New Zealand, and travelled to New Zealand as migrants or refugees.

More information about the African Communities in New Zealand and the challenges they face can be found here.

- NZAF official response