New Zealand High Court overturns ban on gender-affirming puberty blockers

In a Wednesday decision, Justice Dale LaHood of the New Zealand High Court ruled that the 2025 regulations banning puberty blockers for minors were unlawful. The court held that the Ministry of Health had not adequately consulted stakeholders as required by section 105 of the Medicines Act 1981. It also determined that the ban constituted unjustified discrimination against young people with gender incongruence, violating section 19 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.

The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa Inc. succeeded in its claims, though the court rejected arguments that the minister had improperly ceded decision-making to Cabinet. Advocacy group Genspect New Zealand protested the ruling, arguing that evidence on suicide risk was insufficiently tested. The decision restores access to gonadotropin-releasing hormone therapy for transgender youth in New Zealand.