Puberty blocker prescribing ban — court challenge
The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) is seeking a judicial review of the Ministry of Health's November 2025 decision to stop new prescriptions of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria and gender incongruence in children and adolescents. A three-day High Court hearing before Justice Dale La Hood began on 14 July 2026.
What each side argues
PATHA's lawyer Victoria Casey KC argued the ban was a political decision rather than a clinical one, telling the court the medicines had been prescribed in New Zealand for decades and that prescribing decisions should rest with patients, families and clinicians. The Government's submissions argue the restriction was a reasonable and cautious response to rising prescribing rates and what it described as insufficient evidence, and that the responsible Minister set aside his earlier public comments when making the statutory decision.
This overview is summarised by AI from public sources. It may contain errors and is a guide, not the definitive record — we welcome corrections.
Key milestones
Judicial review hearing opens in the High Court
A three-day High Court hearing began before Justice Dale La Hood, with the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) challenging the Ministry of Health's November 2025 ban on new puberty blocker prescriptions. PATHA's counsel Victoria Casey KC argued the decision was politically driven rather than clinical, while the Government argued it was a reasonable, cautious response to rising prescribing rates and limited evidence.