21 November 2025

Te Kāhui Korowai Rangatahi – Youth Health Aotearoa Opposes Government Ban on Puberty Blockers for Young People

Following last week’s announcement that the government will halt new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria, we are deeply concerned.

At the end of 2024, Te Kāhui Korowai Rangatahi (formerly SYHPANZ), guided by our vision of all young people thriving in Aotearoa, endorsed a statement led by the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) which supported the continued use of puberty blockers in gender affirming care in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This statement formed part of a submission to the Ministry of Health’s Consultation on safety measures for the use of puberty blockers in young people with gender-related health needs. Te Kāhui Korowai Rangatahi was among the many individuals and organisations in the youth health sector that stood in support of its continued use.

Following last week’s announcement that the government will halt new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria, we are deeply concerned. We echo PATHA’s warning that this decision will have a “devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of our transgender and gender diverse young people.”

“Our trans and gender diverse rangatahi deserve compassionate, evidence-informed care, not barriers that increase distress and limit their options,” says Lara Wall, Co-Chair of Te Kāhui Korowai Rangatahi.

We stand with PATHA and our youth health colleagues including College of Child and Youth Nurses | Tapuhitia Ngā Mokopuna Mō Apōpō in urging the government to reconsider this harmful step and to prioritise the wellbeing of all young people in Aotearoa.