New Zealand announced an indefinite ban on puberty blockers for transgender youth hours after a far-right coalition partner claimed victory in what it called a “war on woke.” New Zealand First, a minority party known for opposing trans rights, released a surprise statement three hours before the government’s own announcement.
It said, “Today, sanity won another battle in the war on woke..After years of dangerous ideological experimentation pushed by radical activists and rubber-stamped by weak politicians, the New Zealand Government has officially banned puberty blockers for children. This is what happens when you back a party that actually delivers…While other parties can’t even define what a woman is, we’ve stood up for families, for truth, and for children.”
The ban places New Zealand alongside a growing list of countries and U.S. states restricting gender-affirming care for youth. Health Minister Simeon Brown called the move “a precautionary approach,” citing a lack of high-quality evidence on puberty blockers’ risks and benefits. The ban takes effect on December 19.
