He said the Auckland District Health Board was considering undertaking some "community outreach" among Pacific Island residents of Auckland to encourage families to seek proper medical care if they wanted their boys circumcised.
Otara GP Dr Harley Aish said a doctor at his clinic had performed circumcisions, mainly for local Pasifika communities, for many years.
Dr Aish's colleague did the procedure under local anaesthetic and the cost was $350 to $450.
Mangere MP Su'a William Sio said male circumcision between the ages of 8 and 14 was a cultural norm for Samoans and Tongans, but he urged Pacific communities to ensure the operations were done only by people with the proper training and qualifications.
Circumcision
Q: Who can legally perform a circumcision?
A: New Zealand-registered health practitioners who have a current practising certificate. This includes GPs although some surgeons consider GPs under-qualified unless they have had special training.
Q: What is male circumcision?
A: Surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.
Q: How common is it?
A: Very common until the 1970s but now fewer than 10 per cent of male babies in NZ are circumcised.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Free at public hospitals, which will generally only do procedure if there is a medical reason. Cost: around $400 at a GP, using local anaesthetic, or $2,000 in hospital under general anaesthetic, which is recommended if older than six months.
