Tue Apr 22 08:52:08 UTC 2025: ## New Zealand’s New Zealand First Party Proposes Bill Defining Women by Biological Sex
**Wellington, New Zealand** – New Zealand First (NZF), a minor party in the country’s coalition government, has introduced a bill seeking to legally define “woman” and “man” based solely on biological sex. The move, announced Tuesday by NZF leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, is framed as a rejection of what the party calls “woke ideology” and a return to “common sense.”
The proposed legislation would define a woman as an “adult human biological female” and a man as an “adult human biological male.” Peters argues this will provide “legal certainty” and counter what he terms “cancerous social engineering” pushed by a “woke minority.” He claims the bill will protect women and move the country away from what he sees as harmful ideology.
However, the bill’s chances of becoming law are uncertain. Introduced by an individual MP, not the government, it faces an uphill battle in the 123-member parliament, where NZF holds only 11 seats. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins criticized the proposal, accusing NZF of prioritizing headlines over coherent policy and neglecting pressing national issues.
The bill’s introduction follows a recent UK Supreme Court ruling defining women by biological sex under equality laws, a decision met with mixed reactions internationally. While celebrated by some conservatives and feminist groups, transgender rights advocates expressed concerns about potential marginalization of the LGBTQ+ community. The New Zealand bill is similarly expected to spark debate and controversy.
First Piper 