The High Court ruling that the ban on new prescriptions for puberty blockers for transgender youth was unlawful is fantastic news for transgender rangatahi and their whanau, the NZNO College of Child and Youth Nurses says.
"They have been holding their breath over the past year awaiting this outcome" says Michael Brenndorfer, college committee member and nurse practitioner who has been providing gender affirming healthcare for the past decade.
"When this ban was first announced we saw an immediate increase in distress, suicidality, and self-harm among trans and gender diverse young people. The harm that this ban had the potential to cause was immense.
"We are very grateful today to read the High Court decision, which will be a welcome relief for many families in our communities."
The ban on puberty blockers was ruled unlawful and invalid by the High Court as it failed to consult with affected communities, as well as unfairly discriminated against gender diverse young people while allowing the same medication to continue to be used for youth with other health conditions.
"It was clear from the outset of this ban that the motive was not the care and protection of young people, but the political targeting of transgender youth. If this issue was truly safety concerns around this medication the ban would have applied to all use, not just for transgender youth.
"The previous 2024 Position Statement on the Use of Puberty Blockers in Gender-Affirming Care was a more than adequately cautious approach to the initiation of puberty blockers, and we call on the Ministry of Health to uphold and reinstate this guidance."