A far-right party in New Zealand that is hostile to trans rights preempted a government announcement on Wednesday that the country will indefinitely ban the use of puberty blockers by trans youth.The New Zealand First party, a minority member of Parliaments coalition government, made the announcement three hours ahead of the governments own health ministry, declaring a victory in its war on woke, Erin in the Morning reports. Related UKs largest doctors union condemns Cass Reviews attacks on gender-affirming care Today, sanity won another battle in the war on woke, the surprise announcement read. 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 cant even define what a woman is, weve stood up for families, for truth, and for children. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The preemptive declaration was one more indication of the politicization of healthcare for trans youth in New Zealand and around the world, and a clue to the partys intimate involvement in crafting the governments policy. The change adds New Zealand to a growing list of countries and U.S. states banning gender-affirming care for trans youth.The governments own announcement described the decision as a precautionary approach to gender-affirming care for transgender youth.There is a lack of high-quality evidence that demonstrates the benefits or risks of puberty-blocking drugs for trans youth, Health Minister Simeon Brown said.113 patients in New Zealand were using puberty blockers in 2023, according to the health ministry. While the policy announcement didnt mention the widely criticized Cass Report, the controversial document claiming a lack of evidence supporting gender-affirming care for young people that was released in the UK last year, its the basis of the UKs own indefinite ban on puberty blockers, which New Zealand is following.Both countries say theyll wait for the results of a UK government-sponsored clinical trial on the efficacy of puberty blockers for trans youth before making a final determination on their use. The prohibition wont affect trans kids currently taking the drugs.By pinning the resumption of prescribing to a UK trial result expected in 2031, the Government has effectively sacrificed a generation of trans youth, said New Zealand civil rights organization Rights Aotearoa. They are demanding a level of evidence for trans healthcare that they do not demand for hundreds of other treatments routinely used in pediatrics. Both bans make an exception for children experiencing early-onset puberty and other conditions, raising equal protection questions.This will undoubtedly end up in court very quickly as the subject of a Judicial Review, Rights Aotearoas Paul Thistoll posted after news of the decision. He called it a blatant violation of New Zealands Human Rights Act. Restricting the availability of puberty blockers to trans kids but allowing them for cis kids is a blatant violation of NZBORA (1990) and the Human Rights Act (1993).This will undoubtedly end up in court very quickly as the subject of a Judicial Review. Paul Thistoll (@pault.bsky.social) 2025-11-19T05:45:12.841ZNew Zealands ban takes effect on December 19.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.