The National-led Government has signalled an intent to consider restricting the prescribing of puberty blockers for gender-affirming care in young people. 

Puberty blockers are medications that work to prevent the unwanted physical changes of puberty, which may result in distress to trans* young people. Puberty blockers do not by themselves result in any physical changes; they simply delay the physical effects of puberty that would otherwise occur.

In 2024 the Government tasked the Ministry of Health with conducting public consultation on whether there should be additional safety measures for puberty blockers, such as regulations under the Medicines Act.

As rainbow charity InsideOUT Kōaro put it, this is "highly unusual and totally inappropriate to open up public consultation for a medical matter that – by the Ministry’s own press release – affects a little over 100 children per year."

The Ministry is only considering restrictoins for trans* young people, not cis young people who are prescribed the same medications for precocious puberty.

Rainbow Wellington is calling on the Minister of Health NOT to restrict access to puberty blockers for gender-affirming care in young people. 

We support informed healthcare practices, which hugely improve mental and social wellbeing for our rainbow rangatahi.

We will be collecting signatures on this petition to present to MPs at Parliament at the end of the Pride Hīkoi in Te Whanganui-a-tara on Sunday, 23 March 2025.