Said, AConn, CNayar, S2019-08-222019-08-22Pacific Health, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.24135/pacifichealth.v1i1.102537-8864https://hdl.handle.net/10292/12761In 2016 UNICEF reported on the continuing scale and persistence of female genital mutilation globally, currently known as female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), and the need to intensify efforts to eliminate the practice. New Zealand has made provision for communities in preventing FGM/C through legal and educational means. Yet, the challenge continues. The purpose of this paper, drawing on the voices of women from FGM/C practicing communities in New Zealand, is to consider areas where the health system can partner with affected communities to better help in preventing FGM/C. New Zealand needs to intensify efforts locally working hand-in-hand with refugee and migrant communities to promote open dialogue, counter stigma, and prevent the next generation for a life without FGM(C). In addition, training for key workers in culturally sensitive approaches is needed so that they can take better care of those who are living with FGM/C. New Zealand is a signatory to a number of international instruments and conventions that call for an end to FGM/C: such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and more recently the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As such, it has a responsibility to at least address the issue locally; and preferably provide an example of excellence globally so that FGM/C is eliminated rapidly.This journal provides open access to all of its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Such access is associated with increased readership and increased citation of an author's work. All articles are made available using a Creative Commons nonexclusive worldwide license (Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International CC BY-NC 4.0) electronic dissemination of the article via the Internet, and, a nonexclusive right to license others to reproduce, republish, transmit, and distribute the content of the journal.Female circumcision; Infibulation; FGM; Refugees; FGM/C; Young women; New Zealand refugeesJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.24135/pacifichealth.v1i1.10