MEDIA RELEASE: Speak Up for Women welcome UK Supreme Court ruling and NZ First’s move to define ‘woman’ in law

Wellington April 22nd 2025

Speak Up for Women (SUFW) welcome the recent UK Supreme Court decision affirming that the term “woman” in the UK Equality Act 2010 refers exclusively to biological women — a decision that reasserts the importance of sex-based rights in law and policy.

“This ruling reaffirms a truth that women across the world already know: sex matters,” said Suzanne Levy, spokesperson for Speak Up for Women. “The legal recognition of biological sex is essential to ensuring the safety, privacy and fairness of women and girls in areas like healthcare, sport, and single-sex spaces.”

The UK decision comes at a time of growing international recognition that gender identity should not override sex-based protections. SUFW sees this as a crucial step in restoring clarity and common sense to the law.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, SUFW welcomes the introduction of a Member’s Bill by NZ First MP Jenny Marcroft, which would define “woman” and “man” in legislation based on biological sex. The proposed change aims to uphold legal certainty and protect sex-based rights — an objective SUFW has long advocated for.

This follows SUFW’s own petition presented to Parliament on 25 March 2025, asking "That the House of Representatives defines that 'sex' in the Human Rights Act 1993 and any other legislation has the biological meaning." The petition reflects growing public concern about the erosion of sex-based protections through policy ambiguity and ideological drift.

SUFW is also pleased with the ACT Party’s recent affirmation of the importance of biological reality and the need for legal clarity when rights are in conflict. ACT’s support signals growing recognition across the political spectrum that women’s safety, privacy, and fairness must not be compromised.

There is a growing trend toward reaffirming sex-based reality in public policy. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello recently directed the health sector to use women-centred language such as “pregnant women” rather than “pregnant people,” and Education Minister Erica Stanford has shown similar clarity in her draft relationships and sexuality education framework, which takes a more grounded and common-sense approach to sex, relationships and consent.

These developments reflect increasing public and political support for the protection of sex-based rights and the use of accurate, respectful language

Now, SUFW is calling on Minister for Women, Nicola Grigg, to back these moves to restore legal clarity and protect sex-based rights.

“As Minister for Women, Nicola Grigg has a responsibility to stand up for the rights, safety and dignity of women and girls,” said Levy. “We urge her to publicly support the UK ruling and the proposed legislative changes here in New Zealand that recognise the reality of biological sex.”

“We welcome political support for clarifying biological definitions to legislation,” said Levy. “This is not about being anti-anyone — it’s about ensuring the rights of women and girls are protected in law.”

SUFW also calls on the Law Commission to consider both the Bill and the UK ruling when finalising their recommendation on Transgender and non-binary protections in our Human Rights Act, due in June this year. The UK decision has shown a clear path for protecting sex based rights and the rights of those who consider themselves to be transgender.