The National Government has announced a pause on prescribing puberty blockers to new patients experiencing gender dysphoria, as it awaits the outcome of a clinical trial currently underway in the UK.
Health Minister Simeon Brown confirmed the regulatory shift today, stating that gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues will no longer be prescribed for new cases of gender dysphoria or incongruence from December 19 onwards.
Puberty blockers have previously been used to delay the onset of puberty in young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Brown said that youth gender services would continue for those in need.
“We are putting in place stronger safeguards so families can have confidence that any treatment is clinically sound and in the best interests of the young person or child,” Brown said.
While the use of GnRH analogues is paused for gender-related treatment, the Government clarified that the drugs will remain accessible for medically approved purposes such as early-onset puberty, endometriosis, and prostate cancer — areas where they say the clinical evidence is well established.
Currently, these medications are not approved by Medsafe for treating gender dysphoria, and their use has been considered “off-label” under section 25 of the Medicines Act, which allows prescribing of unapproved medicines under certain conditions.
In November 2024, the Ministry of Health released a brief highlighting what they termed “significant limitations” in the available research on the safety and effectiveness of using puberty blockers for treating gender dysphoria.
“The evidence brief found that the evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety was limited and of poor quality,” the ministry stated at the time.
Cabinet has now agreed that once the UK trial is completed, the Ministry of Health will review the prescribing guidelines accordingly. Brown said this move aligns New Zealand with other countries, including the UK, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, where similar cautionary measures have been introduced.
“These changes will ensure a more consistent and carefully monitored approach,” Brown said.
The policy change will not impact those already undergoing treatment with puberty blockers and applies solely to new patients after the 19 December cut-off.
The announcement has drawn mixed political reactions. Green Party primary healthcare spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March criticised the move.
“The Government is choosing to target trans people instead of dealing with problems that affect people in a cost-of-living crisis,” he said.
“It is telling that during Trans Awareness Week, the Government doubles down on its imported culture wars and follows the UK approach, which is not a holistic, person-centred approach to healthcare.”
In contrast, ACT Party children’s spokesperson Karen Chhour welcomed the decision.
“Growing up can be challenging and confusing, but using puberty blockers as the primary treatment to deal with gender identity issues can cause lifelong effects that are later regretted,” Chhour said.
“I believe young people should be supported to love themselves, not change themselves with experimental medication.”
