Gender affirming care for children and young people
Gender affirming healthcare for children and young people supports them to feel comfortable in their gender and in themselves and can help reduce distress. Healthcare and support options may include:
- social support
- psychological support
- medical care.
Many children and young people, and their family and whānau, also find other supports helpful alongside gender affirming healthcare. These might include:
- peer support
- Community based support
- mental health and wellbeing support.
These supports do not replace gender affirming healthcare. They sit alongside it and can help children, young people, and their family and whānau feel informed, connected, and supported.
Rights of children and young people in healthcare
Children and young people have the right to safe and non‑judgemental care, including:
- being listened to
- having their identity respected
- receiving support that centres their wellbeing.
Care should be culturally responsive to their needs and those of their families and whānau.
When seeking support, you can expect services to:
- treat you and your whānau with kindness, respect, and care
- give you easy-to-understand information about your choices and guide you on the next steps.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, it is against the law for any person, including health practitioners and health services, to try to change or suppress someone’s gender identity, including that of children and young people. This protection is set out in New Zealand’s Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act (2022).
Conversion practices — Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commissionexternal link
For your rights when using health and disability services, see KidsHealth.
Health and disability services consumers' rights — KidsHealth
To make a complaint about the healthcare you, or your child or young person received, see the guidance from the Health and Disability Commissioner.
Making a complaint — Health and Disability Commissioner
A free and independent advocacy service is available to help you understand your health and disability rights and support you to work through any concerns or complaints about your care.
About the advocacy service — Health and Disability Advocacy Service
Gender affirming healthcare and support options for children and young people
There are a range of healthcare and support options that may be helpful for children and young people.
There are differences in what services are available in each part of the country, and the information on this page provides a general national overview, rather than a service directory. We recommend reaching out to local organisations and providers who will have more detail about the options available where you live.
Peer support connects you with people who have had similar experiences. It can offer a safe space to talk, ask questions, learn from others, and feel understood.
For children, young people, and sometimes their families and whānau, peer support can help reduce isolation, support wellbeing, and strengthen your connection with others in your community.
Different ways peer support can look
Peer support for transgender and gender‑diverse children and young people is offered in a range of ways. These include:
- peer‑led groups or community spaces, where young people meet others with similar experiences
- programmes run by trained peer workers or volunteers
- peer support services and groups designed for Māori (including Takatāpui people), and Pacific transgender and gender diverse children and young people
- online or phone‑based peer support, which can be particularly helpful if you live rurally or want more privacy.
All these options aim to be safe, welcoming places where children and young people can be themselves and feel supported.
Peer support groups often have specific age ranges, and some support families and whānau as well. What is available can differ depending on where you live.
Examples of organisations providing peer support
Qtopia is an advocacy and social support service for the LGBTQIA+ community based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, serving Waitaha Canterbury and the wider South Island. They provide specialised, free peer support for transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals of all ages.
RainbowYOUTH peer support provides transgender peer support in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Auckland transgender peer support — RainbowYOUTHexternal link
For more peer support and community groups across Aotearoa New Zealand, see the Be There website.
Groups and support — Be Thereexternal link
Being transgender or gender diverse is not a mental health condition.
Transgender and gender diverse young people are more likely than their peers to experience worries or distress that may be hard to cope with. This is usually related to external pressures - like not feeling understood or accepted, dealing with day to day challenges, or feeling alone in what they're going through.
If a child or young person’s worries or distress starts to affect daily life, talking with a GP, trusted health professional, or a recognised local community organisation can be a helpful first step. They can help you understand what support is available locally and guide you on the next steps.
Counselling services and mental health support services may be available in your area. There are also free national helplines that are available to anyone in Aotearoa New Zealand.
See the information and resources below for further guidance on the options available for children and young people.
Mental health services for young people — Healthifyexternal link
Where to get help for mental health – Digital tools and resources
Free and easily accessible mental wellbeing support is available in primary care settings and youth friendly environments through Access and Choice services.
Access and choice — Health NZexternal link
School-based health services
Support for mental wellbeing may also be available through:
- your school’s pastoral care services
- school-based health services
- Awhi Mai Awhi Atu (Ministry of Education funded counsellors in schools).
Check which of these services may be available locally with your school.
Mana Ake and Kia Ora Ake services are available in some primary and intermediate schools in these districts:
- Bay of Plenty
- Canterbury
- Counties-Manukau
- Hawke’s Bay
- Lakes
- Northland
- Tairāwhiti
- West Coast
Mana Ake - Stronger for Tomorrowexternal link
Mental wellbeing support is also available for students in most tertiary education settings. See your local student health service for details.
If you have any concerns about your safety or someone else’s, urgent mental health help should be sought.
Gender affirming medical care
Gender affirming medical care can help a young person develop in a way:
- that aligns with their gender
- helps them to be more comfortable in themselves.
It can also help to reduce distress related to puberty so children, young people, and families and whānau, have time to think about their options.
The type of gender affirming medical care that may be offered depends on a child or young person’s:
- age
- stage of development
- needs
- goals.
Health professionals will talk with you and your family and whānau about the options that are safe and appropriate for your situation.
Other kinds of support, such as peer or psychological support, can be helpful alongside medical care. These supports can help children and young people, and families and whānau:
- understand their feelings
- manage stress
- make decisions.
Other kinds of support options do not replace gender affirming medical care.
Puberty blockers are medicines that can temporarily pause puberty. They are sometimes used as part of gender affirming healthcare for children and young people who experience significant distress about changes in their body during puberty. This pause can give young people and their families and whānau time to think and consider their decisions around care. If the medicine is stopped, puberty will start again.
As of 19 December 2025, new prescriptions of puberty blockers for puberty suppression in children and adolescents with gender dysphoria or gender incongruence are prohibited under the Medicines Act. This change is set down for judicial review by the High Court in May.
If a child or young person had a prescription for puberty blockers from before 19 December 2025, this prescription will not be affected by the changes to the Medicines Act.
The recent changes to puberty blocker prescribing may be concerning for some children and young people and their families and whānau.
Where to get support following these changes
Children, young people and families and whānau can still talk to their GP or a trusted health professional as a first step. They can:
- give information
- answer questions
- help young people understand their options
- refer people to other health specialists if needed.
Some children and young people may be referred to health professionals who specialise in gender affirming medical care for children and young people. These teams can talk about other possible treatment and support options.
Gender affirming hormone therapy (often called GAHT) is treatment that helps a person’s body develop physical traits that align with their gender. This usually involves use of hormones like testosterone or oestrogen.
Care related to GAHT is approached carefully, with informed consent and consideration of a young person’s age, development, mental health, and support networks.
Health professionals work closely with the young person and the people who support them, including whānau where appropriate, to make sure they have the information they need and feel supported throughout the process.
Accessing healthcare and support
Some gender affirming medical treatments can affect future fertility. Talking about fertility early is an important part of informed consent for children and young people before starting treatment.
Support options for families, whānau and caregivers
Families and whānau may also need support for themselves. When a child or young person in your life is exploring their gender or experiencing distress related to gender dysphoria it is normal to feel:
- unsure
- stressed
- overwhelmed at times.
Getting support can help you understand what is happening, look after your own wellbeing, and feel more confident in how you support the child or young person in your life. You can look after your wellbeing by talking with someone you trust, connecting with other parents or caregivers, learning from reliable sources, and seeking support from a healthcare provider or community organisation.
There are peer support options for parents and caregivers of transgender or non‑binary young children and young people. These groups can offer a space to ask questions, share experiences, and connect with parents and caregivers in similar situations.
Be There, KidsHealth and Listening to Families have links to a range of relevant support groups, organisations, and resources to support families and whānau.
Groups and support — Be Thereexternal link
Talking about gender diversity — Support for parents — Listening to Familiesexternal link
If you are feeling particularly stressed, anxious or are struggling with your own mental health, it is important to reach out for help. Your primary care provider (such as your general practitioner or nurse) is a good first point of contact for advice, mental health support, and referrals to further services if needed.