18 January 2023
Ken Orr ken@righttolife.org.nz
Tēnā koe Ken
Your Official Information Act request, reference: HNZ00008444
Thank you for your email received by Te Whatu Ora on 2 December 2022, asking for the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“What evidence do you have that transgender, intersex and gender diverse people in New Zealand are getting pregnant and giving birth to children?
What is the individual number of transgender, intersex, and gender diverse people who gave birth to a child in New Zealand in the years 2017 to 2021?”
Please find our answers addressing your questions below:
“What evidence do you have that transgender, intersex and gender diverse people in New Zealand are getting pregnant and giving birth to children?”
The 2018 Counting Ourselves Survey conducted by the University of Waikato, into the health and well-being of trans and non-binary New Zealanders, collected information about pregnancy.
The survey asked the question “Have you ever been pregnant since identifying as trans or non-binary?” Out of participants who were assigned female at birth, four per cent had been pregnant since identifying as trans or non-binary and one percent were unsure if they had been pregnant.
“What is the individual number of transgender, intersex, and gender diverse people who gave birth to a child in New Zealand in the years 2017 to 2021?”
At present, the national maternity data in Te Whatu Ora is not collected in such a way that enables us to identify transgender, gender diverse, and intersex people. Therefore, this aspect of your request is refused under section 18(g) of the Act, as the information requested is not held by our agency.
If you have any questions, you can contact us at hnzOIA@health.govt.nz.
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.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Grant Pollard
Group Manager
Commissioning/Child and Community Health
(Health New Zealand) Right to Life's comment