11 April 2025
Jan Rivers
[FYI request #30558 email]
Tēnā koe Jan
Your request for official information, reference: HNZ00083846
Thank you for your email on 28 March 2025, asking Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora for the
following under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act):
I have noted that Health New Zeland is now using non sex-specific terms in relation to
women's health. This involves changes from women, woman, pregnant women to
terms such as pregnant people, parents, pregnant person and women / person to refer
to women in relation to medical care. applies to the website and to the newer papers.
Please can you provide sources created by Te Whatu Ora since interim Health New
Zealand organisation was established in September 2021 that provide:
the source of the request to make the change
the evidence base that was considered when making this change (including any
benefits and to whom they were anticiapted to accrue.)
the policy paper recommending the changes be made
the minutes of the meeting where the decision was made.
Response
Health NZ does not have a policy relating to the use of gender-inclusive language.
In terms of the way we use gender inclusive language in Starting Well | Kahu Taurima, our team
follows the Public Service Commission’s guidance on Rainbow inclusive language (f
ound here),
which in turn follows the United Nation’s Guidelines for Gender-Inclusive Language
https:/ www.un.org/en/gender-inclusive-language/guidelines.shtml. As such, your request is refused under section 18(e) of the Act as the requested information
does not exist or, despite reasonable ef orts to locate it, cannot be found.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[email address].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or by phoning 0800 802 602.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, Health NZ may proactively
release a copy of this response on our website. Al requester data, including your name and
contact details, wil be removed prior to release.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Danielle Coe
Manager (OIAs) – Government Services
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
Health NZ, PO Box 793,
Wel ington 6140, New Zealand
