Promoting positive and responsible sexual and reproductive health

Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health promotes healthy relationships, positive sexual and reproductive health, and responsible sexual behaviour.

Our aim to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. We also aim to reduce levels of sexual violence in our communities and levels of stigma towards sexual minorities.

Staff at Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health provide the following services:

• Sexual and reproductive health information to the public.
• Distribution of condoms and lubricants.
• A programme of seminars to update and inform those working in the area of sexual health especially with youth.
• Support the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community.
• Contact tracing for Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Here are some ideas on positive sexual health behaviours:

• Healthy relationships are the key to good sexual health – respect yourself and your partner.
• Delay your first sexual experience until you are sure you are ready.
• Use condoms and lube every time. Lube makes condoms less likely to break and increases pleasure.
• Reach out for help if you are being pressured to have sex – your body, your decision.
• Limit numbers of sexual partners.
• Use reliable contraception unless you want a baby now.
• Protect your whakapapa/ family tree. Untreated STIs can cause infertility.
• Have regular sexual health check ups as some STIs have no symptoms.
• Drinking alcohol can affect the decisions you make, including around sex.

Dealing with sexual health issues and infections in New Zealand

New Zealand has high rates of STIs and unintended pregnancies compared to other countries. Chlamydia rates are especially high among young people aged 15 to 24 years and gonorrhoea rates are also high in some areas.

Syphilis rates are steadily increasing. The highest rates are still among men who have sex with men (MSM) but rates are also increasing among heterosexual men and women. Of particular concern are the cases of congenital syphilis (mother to baby) now being seen.

However there has been a significant drop in genital warts cases since the introduction of the HPV vaccine – now available free for boys as well as girls. Abortion rates among teenage girls have also dropped dramatically and this is likely due to increased education and the emphasis placed on the use of contraception.

Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is available to now available in Christchurch to people who are at high risk of becoming infected with HIV. Contact the Christchurch Sexual Health Centre for further information.

• Read information on the Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP).
• Read information on pornography.

Documents

• Abortion Services Aotearoa New Zealand: Annual Report 2024 (Ministry of Health).
• Let’s talk about it: Review of relationships and sexuality education (Education Review Office 2024).
• National HIV Action Plan for New Zealand Aotearoa 2023–2030 (Ministry of Health 2023).
• Aotearoa New Zealand Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection Strategy 2023-2030 (Ministry of Health 2023).

• Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey Initial Findings: Sexual and Reproductive Health of NZ Secondary School Students (University of Auckland 2020).
• New Zealand Aotearoa’s guidance on contraception (Ministry of Health 2020).
• Youth19 Period Poverty fact sheet (University of Auckland 2020).
• Sexual and reproductive health 2014/15: New Zealand Health Survey (Ministry of Health 2019) – series of seven reports.
• National Syphilis Action Plan (Ministry of Health 2019).

• Promoting wellbeing through sexuality education (Education Review Office 2018).
• New Zealand Progress Report on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
• HIV A New Diagnosis (Body Positive).
• AIDS Epidemiology Newsletters (University of Otago Medical School).
• Sexually Transmitted Infections in New Zealand: Annual Surveillance Reports (ESR).

Downloads

Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.

• Should I have a Sexual Health Check?
• What is Gonorrhoea?
• What is Syphilis? –  also available in Te Reo Māori.

Links

• Just the Facts about Sexual Health and STIs (Te Whatu Ora).
• Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand.
• Burnett Foundation Aotearoa – previously NZ AIDS Foundation.
• Positive Women.

• Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa – previously Family Planning.
• Youthline.
• NZ Prostitutes Collective.
• The Rodger Wright Centre.
• Reality and Risk: Pornography, young people and sexuality (Australia).

• Find out specific information on LBGTQIA+ health.

Sexual Health Services in Your Area

• Canterbury including Rangiora and Kaikoura [107KB].
• Mid Canterbury – updated August 2022 [18KB].
• South Canterbury – updated March 2022 [106KB].
• West Coast including Buller, Reefton and Westland [53KB].

Turning up the heat on sex

Some innovative projects are blowing the lid off secrets and whispers around sexual health.

Equitable access to information about sexual and reproductive health is critical but the topic can be shrouded in complex issues of culture, discomfort and controversy.

Viewer discretion is advised – must be 18+!

Ai, Let’s talk about sex is a digital video series for rangatahi. It features young, bilingual, Māori panellists discussing a wide range of topics to do with sexual and reproductive health.

Tapu Vā is a place where Pasifika peoples are encouraged to join the talanoa about Pacific attitudes to sex, its tapu nature, their own experiences and their aspirations for their communities’ sexual health. There are also videos of young Pasifika people talking about their aspirations for Pacific sexual health.

The REAL Sex Talk videos educate Kiwi teenagers about sex in an approachable and informative manner. The videos features a variety of New Zealand celebrities openly share their own personal sexual experiences as well as practical advice from local medical experts. This web series is available online from:

• Villainesse; or
• The Wireless.