Farmers have apologised and are investigating.
Mrs Haddock-Staniland travelled to Samoa for a planned holiday yesterday. Her spokeswoman Miranda Likeman said whether or not to make an official complaint to the Human Rights Commission was "top of mind for her".
"She will be weighing this up while on holiday, as the best outcome for all concerned may not lie that way," Ms Likeman said.
"Farmers have been very helpful and responsive, and have demonstrated a desire to resolve this matter and look at diversity training with their staff."
The HRC said they had received 16 gender identity complaints in the past five years. They could not give specifics for privacy reasons, but outlined the basis of each complaint.
Six complaints were from secondary school students, three from students aged over 18 and two were from primary school aged pupils.
Among the 16 complaints were:
•A transgender female told by a national sporting organisation she could not partake in female matches.
•An education provider declining to enrol a transgender man as a male student. He was told by the provider that they they would only enrol him as male if he approached the Family Court
•A man who said his doctor had breached his privacy by disclosing his trans status to the local Meals on Wheels service
•A female transgender student was told she may not take a lead female role in a school kapa haka group
•A schoolboy was harassed by senior staff at an education provider because he was transgender
•A chairperson was asked to stand down from her position as she had changed gender.
•A young girl was kicked out of school due to being transgender. Then, when seeking to enrol in another school she was told she would not be allowed to use the girls' toilets or wear girls' school uniform.
•A parent said when she told her daughter's school she was going through a gender change, although teachers and staff were supportive, the principal was not and refused to address her by her name.
•A transgender student who played soccer in the girls' league had faced complaints from other schools about her inclusion in the team. They had requested that the student/team withdraw or forfeit from the competition.
•A transgender student's school refused to recognise their gender on school reports, saying the reports are 'a legal document'.
•Two transgender students were not allowed to perform in their Pacific Island girl's group.
Of the 16 complaints, eight of were resolved through a discussion with an HRC mediator.
"During the discussion information was offered to the complainant, suggestions for resolution included that the complainant attend a proposed meeting with the entity, on the understanding that if the complainant was prevented from doing a role due to her transgender status, the Commission could progress a complaint of unlawful discrimination," the OIA response stated.
The HRC also suggested involving school counsellors to provide support to students and providing them with information to pass on to their school about supporting transgender students, and about the Human Rights Act.
In the other cases information was provided to complainants about the Privacy Act and complaints process or the mediator arranged for the complainant to speak with a transgender person for advice.
Some went to full mediation.
