2025–2026
Rules on puberty blockers exist; a court said the government should not enforce them for now.
What the law allows
Medical care for minorsMixed
Mixed: 2025 GnRH regulations exist, but a recorded court order means the Crown should not enforce them pending review.
High Court [2025] NZHC 4045 (PDF)
Schools — curriculumCSE in schools
comprehensive sex education (CSE) in schools: Relationships and sexuality education remains in Health and Physical Education on the Ministry of Education parent portal.
education.govt.nz — Relationships and sexuality education
LitigationIn court
Mixed: 2025 GnRH regulations exist, but a recorded court order means the Crown should not enforce them pending review.
High Court [2025] NZHC 4045 (PDF)
Key dates2025
2025: Mixed: 2025 GnRH regulations exist, but a recorded court order means the Crown should not enforce them pending review.
High Court [2025] NZHC 4045 (PDF)
Official sources
2025 GnRH analogue regulations set aside by the High Court on 21 October 2026 ([2026] NZHC 3248). No national restriction in force. CSE in schools (RSE in HPE).
- High Court [2026] NZHC 3248 (PDF), 21 October 2026 →
- NZ Legislation — GnRH amendment regulations 2025 →
- NZ Legislation — No 2 clarification (children and adolescents only) →
- Court of Appeal [2026] NZCA 8 (PDF) →
- Ministry of Health cabinet papers →
- Ministry of Education — Relationships and sexuality education →
- Education and Training Act 2020 s.51 — release from sexuality-education tuition →
Full official record
The Medicines (Restriction on Prescribing Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Analogues) Amendment Regulations 2025 prohibited new prescriptions of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria or gender incongruence in children and adolescents; existing patients were excluded. Enforcement was suspended by interim order in December 2025 ([2025] NZHC 4045; [2026] NZCA 8). On 21 October 2026 the High Court declared the regulations unlawful and invalid and set them aside, finding inadequate consultation under s 105 of the Medicines Act 1981 and unjustified discrimination on the ground of disability under s 19 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 ([2026] NZHC 3248). The government has said it is seeking advice on next steps.
On 21 October 2026 the High Court of New Zealand set aside the 2025 regulations restricting new puberty blocker prescriptions for minors with gender dysphoria or gender incongruence ([2026] NZHC 3248). No national restriction on new prescriptions is in force. The judgment states it remains for the Minister and Cabinet to decide what, if any, restrictions should apply.
Schools detail
The Ministry of Education’s official parent portal (published 3 November 2025) states that relationships and sexuality education is taught within the Health and Physical Education learning area of the New Zealand Curriculum — covering friendships and relationships, consent, puberty, diversity, and sex education and sexual health. Education and Training Act 2020 s.51 treats sexuality education as part of the health curriculum and provides a written parental opt-out. The 2020 RSE guidelines document was withdrawn; that withdrawal is not a repeal of RSE in HPE.