What is happening with inclusive language in Aotearoa New Zealand?

It does not matter—until it does?

In recent weeks, the New Zealand government instructed Health NZ to stop using the term “pregnant people” and replace it with “women.” According to the Associate Health Minister, clear language must be used and “only women and people of the female sex can get pregnant and birth a child no matter how they identify.”

Dr. George Parker, a lecturer and researcher at Victoria University of Wellington specialized in LGBTQIA+ equitable reproductive and perinatal healthcare, pointed out that this decision is part of a broader push against equity initiatives and that it is disappointing to see that such an agenda is now being implemented by politicians in Aotearoa.

Dr. Parker also highlighted that roadblocking the use of inclusive language in the healthcare sector goes against research-informed best practice and findings of research commissioned by government. That research not only recommends the use of neutral terms but also shows no evidence that inclusive language negatively impacts cisgender people.

The New Zealand College of Midwives stated that it is crucial to think carefully about these changes. As an institution, they are clear that not all people who give birth identify as women. Therefore, they advocate for inclusive alternatives such as “women and people with diverse identities” to ensure that trans and non-binary individuals are not excluded.

Just a few days later, NZ First introduced a bill aiming to define men and women strictly based on biological sex, thereby excluding trans men and women. This bill mirrors a recent decision upheld by the UK Supreme Court.

Words matter—especially when people’s rights, dignity, and wellbeing are on the line. Policies that erase the existence of diverse identities don’t promote clarity; they promote exclusion.

It’s time to move forward, not backwards.