# Human Rights Commission welcomes High Court decision on puberty blockers ban

Date: 22 Oct 2026
Released by: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission

## MediaRelease.co Summary

Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission has welcomed a High Court decision setting aside regulations that prohibited access to puberty blockers for new patients seeking gender-related health care. The Commission says the judgment in PATHA v Minister of Health reinforces the importance of meaningfully consulting gender diverse young people and their whānau, and that government must uphold the right to freedom from disability discrimination. It says it will carefully consider the decision.

## Original release

Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission welcomes the High Court’s decision setting aside regulations that prohibited access to puberty blockers for new patients seeking gender related health care. The judgment reinforces the importance of gender diverse young people and their whānau being meaningfully consulted on decisions affecting their healthcare, and that government must uphold the right to freedom from disability discrimination. We will carefully consider the decision.

## Key details

- Issued by: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission
- Published: 22 Oct 2026
- Publisher country: New Zealand
- Subject country/region: New Zealand

Original source: https://tikatangata.org.nz/news/human-rights-commission-welcomes-high-court-decision-on-puberty-blockers-ban
MediaRelease.co canonical URL: https://mediarelease.co/nz/mr02206-human-rights-commission-welcomes-high-court-decision-22102026.html