Labour’s spokesperson for Rainbow Issues, Shanan Halbert, stands firm on puberty blocker access.
New Zealand has now had a year of the coalition government, and to mark the anniversary, we heard some deliberately misleading murmurs from ACT and Winston Peters about access to puberty blockers. This kind of rhetoric is alarming and ignorant.
I would like to be clear that Te Manatu Hauora – The Ministry of Health has said access to puberty blockers will be maintained as part of comprehensive care plans and whānau support.
But we have a fight on our hands. The Ministry of Health has been instructed by the government to consult on restricting access to puberty blockers for trans and non-binary rangatahi.
The final decision will be made by the coalition government’s Cabinet, which has no rainbow representation and is out of touch with the needs of our rainbow community and their whānau.
As Labour’s spokesperson for Rainbow Issues, I’m calling on the National Government to show leadership when it comes to making evidence-based decisions on puberty blockers. It’s important to ensure that our rangatahi have the same access to healthcare as any other young person in Aotearoa.
I want to see the government prioritise improved support for prescribing clinicians and ensure equitable access is maintained. Any additional barriers that could be put in place would have human rights and mental health implications for our rangatahi. That isn’t fair. Our health system should take care of everyone.
Without rainbow representation in Cabinet, we will need to work to make our voices heard. One way to be heard is through the public consultation process. You can have your say online or email pbconsultation@health.govt.nz to share your thoughts before 5pm Monday, 20 January 2025.
Labour will continue to stand by our rangatahi and their whānau to have their needs met and support them to be who they are. Please take some time this summer to write to the government and make your support for our rangatahi heard.
Ki te Kotahi te kākaho ka whati, ki te kāpuia e kore e whati. One reed alone will break. If they are bunched together, they are impossible to break.
Authorised by Shanan Halbert, MP Parliament Buildings, Wellington, funded by Parliamentary Services.
