Gender-Affirming Care in New Zealand

The Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021 has allowed changes to sex registration based on self-identification since June 2023.

Legal framework

The Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021 has allowed changes to sex registration based on self-identification since June 2023.

Clinical care

Gender-affirming care falls under Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand), which replaced the regional District Health Boards in 2022. In 2024, the Minister of Health announced a review of puberty blockers for young people in response to international developments, including the Cass Review. Critical perspectives in New Zealand include those of Resist Gender Education and Aotearoa Support.

Self-identification in practice

Adults can change the sex on their birth certificate by making a statutory declaration; a medical statement or court application is no longer required. They can choose between male, female and a non-binary designation. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds need the consent of a guardian or a statement from a qualified third party, while for younger children the guardian submits the application.

Ministry review

In November 2024, the Ministry of Health published an overview of the evidence on puberty blockers. Its conclusion aligned with the British Cass Review: the evidence for both their benefits and safety is limited and of low quality. The ministry urged doctors to exercise caution and held a public consultation on whether additional regulations were needed. The conclusions of the Cass Review and the underlying international sources are summarised at transkompas.nl. At that time, New Zealand was one of the countries where puberty blockers were prescribed relatively most often.

Ban on new prescriptions

On 19 November 2025, the government announced rules banning new prescriptions of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria in people under eighteen, pending the outcome of British research. Young people who were already receiving treatment were allowed to continue, and the medications remained available for other conditions, such as precocious puberty.

Legal case

The professional association PATHA took the matter to court. On 17 December 2025, the High Court ruled that the government may not enforce the ban while the case is awaiting a substantive hearing. The judge found no evidence that an emergency ban was necessary. The merits of the case have therefore not yet been decided. A similar development in the neighbouring country is discussed in the article on Australia.