MEDIA RELEASE – 17 August 2026
WPATH Admission Raises Serious Questions About Gender Treatment Guidelines in NZ
Family First NZ is calling on the Government and Ministry of Health to urgently review their reliance on guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and its New Zealand affiliate, the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA), following what it describes as a significant admission by WPATH in a United States court case.
According to court filings, WPATH acknowledged that its standards of care represent one side of an ongoing medical debate regarding the treatment of gender-distressed young people.
Family First NZ National Director Bob McCoskrie says the admission undermines claims that there is a settled scientific consensus supporting so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors.
“WPATH & PATHA have both been presented as the experts in transgender healthcare. Yet WPATH has now acknowledged that its position is one side of a significant medical debate.”
WPATH’s standards have been referenced by the Ministry of Health and incorporated into New Zealand healthcare pathways through PATHA guidelines.
Family First argues that New Zealand policymakers should instead place greater emphasis on emerging international reviews, including the UK’s Cass Review and recent evidence assessments questioning the strength of evidence supporting puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors.
“If the evidence is contested, as WPATH itself now appears to acknowledge, then caution must prevail. Children deserve healthcare based on robust evidence, not ideology,” says Mr McCoskrie.
Family First is calling for:
- An independent review of all Ministry of Health policies and guidance that rely on WPATH or PATHA standards.
- Greater transparency regarding the evidence base for gender-related medical interventions.
- A precautionary approach to the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgical procedures involving minors.
- A comprehensive review of government-funded programmes relating to gender medicine.
“The stakes could not be higher. These treatments can have life-altering consequences for young people. The Government has a responsibility to ensure that policies are guided by the strongest available evidence and not by pressure from advocacy groups.”
Family First says the latest developments demonstrate the need for open scientific debate and careful scrutiny of all claims surrounding medical interventions for gender-distressed children and adolescents.
