Politics Live Blog - ongoing OLD
Christopher Luxon supports health edict to discuss 'pregnant women' rather than 'pregnant people'
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he thinks associate health minister Casey Costello was right to tell health officials to stop talking about "pregnant people".
Instead, Cotsello asked that health officials discuss "pregnant women" - a request Luxon says makes sense.
"The minister is right. We really want clear language and appropriate language, of course we need tailored variations where it's needed," he said.
He said "most New Zealanders" would talk about "women" or "pregnant women" when speaking about maternity care, and so health advice should reflect that.
"Are pregnant people women? Yes," he concluded.
Luxon said there would continue to be healthcare available and accessible for trans and non-binary people.
"Nothing changes for them, we're just saying let's use commonsense practical language," he said.
Instead, Cotsello asked that health officials discuss "pregnant women" - a request Luxon says makes sense.
"The minister is right. We really want clear language and appropriate language, of course we need tailored variations where it's needed," he said.
He said "most New Zealanders" would talk about "women" or "pregnant women" when speaking about maternity care, and so health advice should reflect that.
"Are pregnant people women? Yes," he concluded.
Luxon said there would continue to be healthcare available and accessible for trans and non-binary people.
"Nothing changes for them, we're just saying let's use commonsense practical language," he said.