New Zealand – MPs vote to remove abortion clinic safe zones from Bill

MPs vote to remove abortion clinic safe zones from Bill
In a confused vote in Parliament, MPs have done away with all sections of the Abortion Legislation Bill that would have made legally protected 'safe areas' possible outside clinics.

Mar 10, 2020

The Bill had its second reading in Parliament last night, in which possible changes were debated and voted on ahead of the third and final reading.

Up for debate were 150 metre safe zones that could be established around abortion clinics on a case-by-case basis, to prohibit intimidating or interfering behaviour.

Continued: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/411409/mps-vote-to-remove-abortion-clinic-safe-zones-from-bill


New Zealand is finally trying to decriminalize abortion. Why has it taken so long?

New Zealand is finally trying to decriminalize abortion. Why has it taken so long?

By Julia Hollingsworth, CNN
Sun August 18, 2019

(CNN) Veronica was 21 years old and scared. It all started with a break-up. Her long-term boyfriend left her for her friend. Heartbroken, she ended up having a one-night stand with an older guy.

After the condom broke, he gave her $20 ($13) for the morning after pill, which doesn't require a prescription in New Zealand. She took it but a month later, in the final semester of her teaching degree, she found out she was pregnant.

Continued: https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/18/health/new-zealand-abortion-law-change-intl-hnk/index.html


‘The time is right’: New Zealand’s parliament advances bill that would decriminalize abortion

‘The time is right’: New Zealand’s parliament advances bill that would decriminalize abortion

By Siobhán O'Grady
August 8, 2019

Lawmakers in New Zealand voted overwhelmingly Thursday in favor of advancing an abortion bill that would dramatically loosen restrictions surrounding the procedure, in one of the most significant steps New Zealand’s leaders have taken toward revising the country’s abortion policies since the late 1970s.

Thursday’s vote was expected to be close, but it advanced easily to the next stage, with 94 voting in favor and 23 against. After further discussion, it will take two more rounds of voting for it to become law.

Continued: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/08/07/new-zealand-abortion-is-still-crime-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-could-soon-change-that/


New Zealand Takes On a Long-Avoided Issue: Decriminalizing Abortion

New Zealand Takes On a Long-Avoided Issue: Decriminalizing Abortion

By Charlotte Graham-McLay
Aug. 5, 2019

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand’s government said on Monday that it would try to pass a law decriminalizing abortion, taking on an issue that the nation’s lawmakers have long avoided even as the country built a socially liberal reputation on the world stage.

Under current law, women seeking an abortion must claim that the pregnancy would harm their physical or mental health, and have the procedure approved by two doctors.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/05/world/asia/new-zealand-abortion.html


Andrew Little’s abortion reforms could ban protests outside clinics

Andrew Little's abortion reforms could ban protests outside clinics

Thomas Coughlan
Aug 05 2019

Protesting outside clinics that offer abortions could be banned under proposals outlined by the Government on Monday.

Justice Minister Andrew Little said the changes would allow "safe areas" to be created outside abortion clinics that would essentially prevent anti-abortion activists from protesting within 150m of the site.

Continued: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/114764111/andrew-littles-abortion-reforms-could-ban-protests-outside-clinics


Abortion law reform is coming to New Zealand, here’s what happens next

Abortion law reform is coming to New Zealand, here's what happens next
A bill that would remove abortion from the Crimes Act will go before Cabinet ministers on Tuesday for final approval.

Thomas Coughlan
Jul 23 2019

New Zealanders will discover how far the Government plans to liberalise abortion laws in weeks, not months, according to Justice Minister Andrew Little.

Party leaders firmed their positions on abortion on Tuesday with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying she supported decriminalisation, while National leader Simon Bridges would not say whether he would back the bill.

Continued: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/114438850/abortion-law-reform-is-coming-to-new-zealand-heres-what-happens-next


New Zealand- New research presented to law makers in abortion reform debate

New research presented to law makers in abortion reform debate

Hannah Martin
Feb 17 2019

A prominent lawyer is calling on the government to provide better systemic support for women, to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

New Australian research - co-authored by Christchurch barrister and senior lecturer Rhonda Powell - seeks to remind policymakers of the complex reasons women seek abortions and has been presented to NZ lawmakers.

Continued: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/110574920/new-research-presented-to-law-makers-in-abortion-reform-debate


New Zealand – Doctors to fight new abortion law

Doctors to fight new abortion law
Group opposes any moves that erode rights in dealing with patients seeking terminations, writes Claire Trevett.

3 Dec, 2018
By: Claire Trevett, Deputy political editor, NZ Herald

A group of doctors opposed to abortion say they will fight any moves in looming reforms to erode their rights to refuse to deal with patients wanting abortions. The issue of referring patients seeking abortions to another doctor has drawn opposition from the group.

Justice Minister Andrew Little says he agrees with a Law Commission proposal for doctors who are "conscientious objectors" to abortion to be made to directly refer a patient on to another doctor who they know will provide the service.

Continued: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12167498


New Zealand – Editorial: Abortion law needs to catch up with real life

Editorial: Abortion law needs to catch up with real life

6 Nov, 2018

Abortion is not a subject most people want to discuss, either as personal experience or as a matter of public policy. New Zealanders who remember our abortion debate of the 1970s probably have no wish to repeat it, but it looks likely the country will need to. The Labour Party wants to remove abortion from the criminal law and treat it as a health matter. Justice Minister Andrew Little has taken the first step, getting advice from the Law Commission on how that might be done.

The debate of 40 years ago ended, as difficult issues often do, in a compromise that satisfied neither side. The Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977 set out conditions under which abortion could be legally performed in New Zealand. Essentially two doctors had to decide that a pregnancy met one of the conditions under which abortion was permitted on the Crimes Act.

Continued: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12154868


Separating fact from fiction on abortion law reform

Separating fact from fiction on abortion law reform

Jackie Edmond | Guest writer
Nov 5, 2018
Opinion

Family Planning chief executive Jackie Edmond debunks some of the myths and misinformation around abortion law reform in New Zealand and the changes proposed by the Law Commission.

It’s important to have accurate information to decide how you feel about changing the law on abortion. The problem is, that isn’t always possible online. At Family Planning, we’ve had a number of queries about the law, and we’d like to present what we know to be accurate.

Continued: https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/05-11-2018/separating-fact-from-fiction-on-abortion-law-reform/