No child will be able to start taking puberty blockers from December 19.

The Government says the Ministry of Health has found a lack of evidence for the benefits or risks of gender dysphoria or incongruence treatment - gonadotropin - releasing hormone analogues.

Health Minister Simeon Brown says they're putting up safeguards until more evidence is available. 

"Effectively, what we're doing is putting in place a restriction on the prescribing of these drugs for this purpose to make sure that those who are prescribing look at the wider range of treatments or things that can be done."

LISTEN ABOVE

No child will be able to start taking puberty blockers from December 19.
The Government says the Ministry of Health has found a lack of evidence for the benefits or risks of gender dysphoria or incongruence treatment - gonadotropin - releasing hormone analogues.
Health Minister Simeon Brown says they're putting up safeguards until more evidence is available.&nbsp;
"Effectively, what we're doing is putting in place a restriction on the prescribing of these drugs for this purpose to make sure that those who are prescribing look at the wider range of treatments or things that can be done."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Simeon Brown: Health Minister on the Government pausing prescription of puberty blockers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7149b6f9-2bd8-4308-afcf-b39a0059afea/transcript

So let’s talk about the Stuff "Kingmaker" debate.

Hated the name.  Just call it the minor parties debate.  It is what it is. 

I’ve never liked the minor party debates because there are just too many talking heads.  It’s always a mess as the moderator tries to herd cats.  But I haven’t figured out a better way of doing it other than a week of one on ones and who’s watching that?

 So it was relatively calm.  Which was a relief but also boring.

 Across from the five walking billboards and their slogans we had two moderators.  What was that about?  We ended up switching from Andrea Vance and Jenna Lynch giggling among themselves like a ZM breakfast crew to five stunned mullets wondering how they can one up each other. Debates need one moderator.  Anyone with broadcasting nous knows that.

 And we had the return of the worm in the audience mood score which showed that those who said the least in the most polite way were the best even though what they did say was unicorn talk.  Which also shows how much of the electorate does not take this stuff seriously

Speaking of unicorn talk, one concrete piece of policy came from Winston Peters who confirmed he wanted to lift the Working for Families tax credit by $120 a week, “possibly more for some”, so we can pay for fuel.

Asked how he would finance it, he pointed to his proposed future fund and $100 billion lined up for it. And then accused reporters of ignoring his policies.

So his one cost-of-living policy is based on an airy fairy idea that isn’t out of the starting gate and whose returns are decades away even if it came to pass.

These were not serious people and most disturbingly two of them are actually in this government and two of them are senior members of the media.

So let’s talk about the Stuff "Kingmaker" debate.
Hated the name. &nbsp;Just call it the minor parties debate. &nbsp;It is what it is.&nbsp;
I’ve never liked the minor party debates because there are just too many talking heads. &nbsp;It’s always a mess as the moderator tries to herd cats. &nbsp;But I haven’t figured out a better way of doing it other than a week of one on ones and who’s watching that?
&nbsp;So it was relatively calm. &nbsp;Which was a relief but also boring.
&nbsp;Across from the five walking billboards and their slogans we had two moderators. &nbsp;What was that about? &nbsp;We ended up switching from Andrea Vance and Jenna Lynch giggling among themselves like a ZM breakfast crew to five stunned mullets wondering how they can one up each other. Debates need one moderator. &nbsp;Anyone with broadcasting nous knows that.
&nbsp;And we had the return of the worm in the audience mood score which showed that those who said the least in the most polite way were the best even though what they did say was unicorn talk. &nbsp;Which also shows how much of the electorate does not take this stuff seriously
Speaking of unicorn talk, one concrete piece of policy came from Winston Peters who confirmed he wanted to lift the Working for Families tax credit by $120 a week, “possibly more for some”, so we can pay for fuel.
Asked how he would finance it, he pointed to his proposed future fund and $100 billion lined up for it. And then accused reporters of ignoring his policies.
So his one cost-of-living policy is based on an airy fairy idea that isn’t out of the starting gate and whose returns are decades away even if it came to pass.
These were not serious people and most disturbingly two of them are actually in this government and two of them are senior members of the media.

Perspective with Andrew Dickens: The first Minor Leaders debate was a waste of time

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c7c24244-2d94-4fbd-b45e-b4d7007d39fb/transcript

Prime Minister Chris Luxon says he didn't watch last night's minor party leader debate, giving no response to jabs by coalition partner Winston Peters. 

At Stuff's Kingmakers' Debate last night, the New Zealand First Leader said there have been better Prime Ministers than Luxon. 

Peters also announced he'll more than double the Working for Families tax credit if re-elected, calling the current 50-dollars a fortnight "lousy". 

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper joined Andrew DIckens to break down the debate. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Prime Minister Chris Luxon says he didn't watch last night's minor party leader debate, giving no response to jabs by coalition partner Winston Peters.&nbsp;
At Stuff's Kingmakers' Debate last night, the New Zealand First Leader said there have been better Prime Ministers than Luxon.&nbsp;
Peters also announced he'll more than double the Working for Families tax credit if re-elected, calling the current 50-dollars a fortnight "lousy".&nbsp;
Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper joined Andrew DIckens to break down the debate.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Barry Soper: Senior Political Correspondent on the first Minor Leaders debate

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8137fd31-a183-46d0-9346-b4d700746ec2/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday  2 October.

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 2 October. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 02 October 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7340ef3b-9a28-4004-aea4-b4d700662fa6/transcript

Simeon Brown: Health Minister on the Government pausing prescription of puberty blockers

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