"Today we are flying the rainbow, trans, bi, and intersex flags on the parliament forecourt. This is the first time in the world the intersex flag has flown at a parliament. #IDAHOTB2018", Green Party MP Jan Logie tweeted.

New Zealand became the first country to fly the intersex flag at parliament on Thursday.

Four LGBTI flags flew in Parliament's forecourt to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) organised to fly the flags with Parliament's cross-party rainbow working group, which was initiated in 2015 to look into lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex rights.

Green Party MP Jan Logie, who initiated the working group in 2015, said about 2000 Kiwis have been born intersex, "yet most things in the world tell us they don't exist and we are all either male or female".

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"Flying the flag at Parliament yesterday was a formal acknowledgement that we see everyone, and as a House of Representatives we wish to represent everyone," she said.

TJ HOEKSTRA VIA NZ PARLIAMENT/TWITTER Rainbow flag flying behind the large bronze statue of Premier Richard John Seddon at Parliament.

Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard gave permission for the flags to fly on IDAHOBIT.

"I really appreciate his efforts to make Parliament kinder and more inclusive, Logie said.

Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue, who holds the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Sexual Characteristics portfolio (SOGISC) at the HRC, said Parliament's decision to raise the flags indicated commitment from New Zealand's leaders to advance the issues facing the rainbow community.

"And that they stand in solidarity with them," she said. "It is that enthusiasm and commitment that we must continue to build on."

On Thursday the HRC and Parliament's cross-party rainbow working group signed an agreement to jointly hold bi-annual consultations with LGBTI communities in Auckland and Wellington, Logie said.

"We have made significant progress as a country but we have not yet eliminated discrimination from our society or Government policies. That has terrible consequences in terms of poor mental health and suicide and lost potential. We can do better."

Blue said she hoped the regular dialogue would provide a space for the rainbow community's voices to be heard by Parliament.