Legislative Step Toward Banning Invasive Virginity Testing and Hymenoplasty in New Zealand

A member’s bill by MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan has been drawn from the ballot, seeking to ban invasive "patriarchal" practices and protect women's human rights.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Parliamentary Ballot Success for Member’s Bill

The bill’s selection from the ballot allows it to be formally introduced to the House for its first reading. Under New Zealand’s parliamentary procedure, members’ bills which are authored by MPs who are not government ministers rely on a lottery-style ballot system to secure debating time. Priyanca Radhakrishnan’s success in this process means the legislation will now face public debate on a designated "Members’ Day." This legislative path is often used to address social issues or human rights gaps that may not be covered by the government’s core legislative program.

Addressing Human Rights and Patriarchal Violence

MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan has characterized virginity testing and hymenoplasty a surgical procedure intended to reconstruct the hymen as acts of "patriarchal violence." She argues that these practices are invasive and violate fundamental human rights, with no legitimate medical or cultural basis. The bill aims to formally recognize these acts as criminal offenses to protect the physical and emotional wellbeing of women. This move aligns New Zealand with international standards, following the global call from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Women to eradicate such practices worldwide.

Evidence of Local Occurrence and Harm

The push for this legislation follows a 2025 investigative report which revealed that virginity testing was actively occurring within certain communities in New Zealand. Research conducted by the Helen Clark Foundation underscored the harm these procedures inflict on women, often involving coercion and trauma. While some medical professionals have reportedly refused requests to perform these tests, the lack of a specific criminal prohibition has left a "gap in the law" that Radhakrishnan’s bill is specifically designed to fill. By criminalizing the practice, the bill seeks to deter both the demand for these tests and the practitioners who provide them.