The New Zealand High Court has overturned a ban on new puberty blocker prescriptions for young people with gender dysphoria. The ruling came on Wednesday, October 21, after the restrictions were announced in November 2025.
The country’s Ministry of Health undertook a public consultation in 2024 to help determine if additional regulations should be placed on prescribing puberty blockers to young people with gender-related health needs. Although the majority of submissions opposed further restrictions, Minister Simeon Brown recommended they be introduced.
Thus, a ban was placed on new prescriptions of puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria and incongruence in children and adolescents. However, the medication remained available for those who had been prescribed them before the regulations, and for other young people with different health needs.
In December 2025, the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) applied for a judicial review of the ban, calling it an “illegal and unethical decision”. Justice Wilkinson-Smith noted there was an “immediate concern” regarding the negative mental health effect of the regulations, and said, “Looking at the overall justice of the situation, I am persuaded that a delay in enforcement of the regulations is the best option now available. The judicial review should be heard with all possible urgency.”
The court then paused the enforcement of the ban, pending a final resolution of the case.
On Wednesday, October 21, the decision was released, stating that the government had “failed to adequately consult those affected by the ban… failing to consult on the substance of the regulations and failing to directly consult with gender diverse young people”.
The court also found “the restrictions unlawfully discriminated against gender-diverse young people, breaching the Bill of Rights.”
The decision stated that young people with gender-related health needs were being treated differently to those who could access puberty blockers for other conditions. “This differential treatment imposed a material disadvantage on young people with gender-related health needs… As they are at high risk of seriously poor health outcomes, particularly self-harm and suicide.”
The New Zealand High Court ruled that the puberty blocker ban was unlawful and invalid, and made an order setting it aside.
© 2026 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
Support GCN
GCN is a free, vital resource for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988.
GCN is a trading name of National LGBT Federation CLG, a registered charity - Charity Number: 20034580.
GCN relies on the generous support of the community and allies to sustain the crucial work that we do. Producing GCN is costly, and, in an industry which has been hugely impacted by rising costs, we need your support to help sustain and grow this vital resource.
Supporting GCN for as little as €1.99 per month will help us continue our work as Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.