New Zealand: Antiquated abortion law a $20 million ‘box ticking exercise’

Antiquated abortion law a $20 million ‘box ticking exercise’
Monday 10th July 2017
The decriminalisation of abortion in New Zealand will save the taxpayer millions, a leading doctor says.

The Government has forked out more than $20 million since 2012 paying specialist doctors to sign off on abortions.

But one specialist has called the process “cruel”, and says a 40-year-old law necessitating the exercise needs to change.

Under the Crimes Act, it is illegal for a woman to have an abortion in New Zealand unless it has been approved by two highly-paid specialist doctors, called certifying consultants.

Continued at source: The Wireless: http://thewireless.co.nz/articles/antiquated-abortion-law-a-20-million-box-ticking-exercise


New Zealand: Certifying consultant comes out in support of abortion rights

Certifying consultant comes out in support of abortion rights
Tuesday, 4 July, 2017

A certifying consultant, Dr Helen Paterson, has told the Abortion Supervisory Committee she now supports abortion rights, the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand says.

Dr Paterson’s disclosure challenges s 30(5) of the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977, which directs the Abortion Supervisory Committee not to appoint certifying consultants who believe abortion should be a matter between a patient and their doctor.

ALRANZ National President Terry Bellamak says Dr Paterson is now a member of ALRANZ.

Continued at source: Voxy: http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/5/287045


New Zealand: Is it time for abortion law reform?

Is it time for abortion law reform?

April 4, 2017

Falling pregnant is a life-changing experience. It was for A*, but not in the usual way.

"I was in a long-term relationship, it wasn't very healthy towards the end. I was using contraception for years and then all of a sudden something happened - I must have made a mistake with it and I was pregnant."

She didn't have the financial means or the support to raise a child.

"It was very sad, and I spent weeks agonising over what I should do and running over all the options in my mind, and it was a very upsetting time.

Continued at source: News Hub: http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2017/04/is-it-time-for-abortion-law-reform.html


New Zealand: Abortion laws overdue for review

Barry Soper: Abortion laws overdue for review
Monday Mar 20, 2017

It's a committee set up by the Government to administer an Act which it says is a geriatric ass.

The Abortion Supervisory Committee says our abortion laws were written 40 years ago and they're long overdue for review.

The very sound of the word abortion though sends our ultra conservative Prime Minister Bill English into apoplectic shock. The committee's not calling for an overhaul of the law, its simply saying the Contraception. Sterilization and Abortion Act 1977 as it stands doesn't work properly.

Continued at source: New Zealand Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11821281


New Zealand: Abortion law not just archaic but hypocritical

Dave Armstrong: Abortion law not just archaic but hypocritical
March 20, 2017

OPINION: A man, let's call him Bill, had a wife and gorgeous children whom he loved dearly. But he decided he didn't want any more children, and nor did his wife. They discussed various forms of contraception and agreed that the best thing was for Bill to have a vasectomy.

However, when Bill arrived at the clinic there was a line of older people, many wearing head scarves, praying for him. Their banners reminded Bill of all the potential lives he was stopping by having a vasectomy. The protesters didn't say anything, but he resented the passive-aggressive tone of their protest.

"I want to have a vasectomy,'' said Bill to the receptionist, so he was ushered into a room to see a counsellor.

"Under the Crimes Act it's illegal to receive a vasectomy on demand," said the counsellor. ''Have you considered the alternatives?"

Continued at link: Stuff.co: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/90556062/dave-armstrong-abortion-law-not-just-archaic-but-hypocritical


New Zealand: Political Roundup: The uncomfortable abortion reform challenge

Political Roundup: The uncomfortable abortion reform challenge
Friday Mar 17, 2017
Bryce Edwards on politics

The radical return of the abortion issue is an opportunity and challenge for politicians. Will they rise to the occasion?

Politicians are finally having to face up to the unresolved abortion question. As yesterday's column pointed out - Should abortion be decriminalised? - the law around abortion is suddenly back on the agenda, following decades of a kind of uncomfortable truce. This was based on an unofficial compromise in which the legal framework for abortion has been very restrictive in law, but relatively liberal in practice.

Most politicians are able to live with compromises, even if they can result in rather messy and farcical situations. But it now appears that the abortion compromise might be falling apart. This will be very uncomfortable for many politicians. Even those who are personally comfortable with more liberal abortion laws will be aware of the potential can of worms that is opened by a renewed debate and investigation into abortion laws. And other politicians will also see the opportunity that such a debate might afford for their own electoral advantage.

Continued at source: New Zealand Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11820489


New Zealand: Not updating abortion law ‘an indictment’, MPs told

Not updating abortion law 'an indictment', MPs told
Thursday, 16 March 2017

Current wording in New Zealand's abortion law is offensive and not updating it is an ``indictment'', a Government-appointed committee has told MPs.

The strong criticism of aspects of abortion law comes amid increasing political debate about the issue, with Labour, the Green Party and Act Party all calling for change.

The Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC) made its annual appearance at Parliament's justice and electoral committee today, reporting on how abortion law has been managed.

Continued at source: Otago Daily Times: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/not-updating-abortion-law-indictment-mps-told


The Big Read: Real stories of women who’ve had an abortion in New Zealand

The Big Read: Real stories of women who've had an abortion in New Zealand
Thursday Mar 16, 2017

Parliament will carry out its annual review of the Abortion Supervisory Committee on Thursday. Prime Minister Bill English has already said he doesn't want to change our abortion laws, which currently classes abortion as a crime.

The Herald put out a call for any women who'd had an abortion to share their experience, and whether they wanted to see change. These are their stories, as told to Frances Cook.

Continued at source: New Zealand Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11818959


New Zealand: Hundreds of Kiwi women told their abortions were ‘not justified’

Hundreds of Kiwi women told their abortions were 'not justified'

In 2016, 252 "not justified abortion" certificates were issued to pregnant women.
by Henry Cooke
March 13, 2017

Hundreds of "not justified abortion" certificates were handed out to pregnant Kiwi women in 2016.

Even as the overall abortion rate has trended down since 2010, the number of women told their abortion would not be "justified" has remained steady.

Abortion is technically a crime in New Zealand. Two certified medical practitioners must deem the abortion medically necessary or justified for it to be legal, but in practice the law is routinely subverted by both doctors and patients.

Continued at source: Stuff.co: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/90390584/hundreds-of-kiwi-women-told-their-abortions-were-not-justified


New Zealand: More than half NZers back legalising abortion – survey

More than half NZers back legalising abortion - survey
20 February 2017

Sally Murphy

More than 50 percent of people think an abortion should be legal if the woman does not want to be a mother or cannot afford another child, a new survey shows.

The Abortion Law Reform Association survey of 1000 people asked if abortion should be legal in seven different circumstances.

It found only 14 percent of people correctly estimated around one in four women have had an abortion.
Continued at source: Radio New Zealand: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324887/more-than-half-nzers-back-legalising-abortion-survey