New Zealand: No abortion changes until ‘well into next year’

No abortion changes until 'well into next year'

2 November 2017
Craig McCulloch, Political Reporter

Any overhaul of the country's abortion laws won't happen until well into next year - at the very earliest, the Labour Party says.

During a Newshub election debate, Jacinda Ardern promised to remove abortion from the Crimes Act if she became prime minister.

However, the policy does not appear in the Labour Party's 100-day plan.

Justice Minister Andrew Little said the government remained committed to modernising the law.

Continued at source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/342899/no-abortion-changes-until-well-into-next-year

02.11.2017

Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977

New Zealand: Current abortion law and proposed changes

Q+A: Current abortion law and proposed changes

KATIE KENNY
September 6 2017

Jacinda Ardern and Bill English clashed over the issue during Monday's televised leaders debate.

When the Abortion Supervisory Committee described New Zealand's abortion laws as "offensive" and outdated, Prime Minister Bill English said any liberalising of the legislation wasn't going to happen on his watch.

But it will on mine, Labour leader Jacinda Ardern promised during Monday's leaders debate. She said if she were elected she would review the legislation which hasn't been altered since 1977.

Continued at source: Stuff.co: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/96525027/qa-current-abortion-law-and-proposed-changes

Abortion Is Still A Crime In New Zealand And Now It Is An Election Issue

Abortion Is Still A Crime In New Zealand And Now It Is An Election Issue
"People need to be able to make their own decision."

Posted on September 06, 2017
Gina Rushton
BuzzFeed News Reporter, Australia

"Because it is 2017," New Zealand's opposition leader Jacinda Ardern tells BuzzFeed News when asked why she'd take abortion out of the nation's criminal code if she wins at the polls on September 23.

The prime minister of New Zealand Bill English and Ardern, the Labour leader, were put on the spot about the issue of abortion during an election debate on Monday, ahead of this month's election.

Continued at source: Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/abortion-is-still-a-crime-in-new-zealand-and-now-it-is-an

06.09.2017

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New Zealand election: Jacinda Ardern pledges to decriminalise abortion

New Zealand election: Jacinda Ardern pledges to decriminalise abortion

Leader of resurgent opposition also continues tough line on Australia, threatening retaliatory university fees hike

Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin
Tuesday 5 September 2017

Jacinda Ardern has said Labour will decriminalise abortion in New Zealand if it wins this month’s general election.

In a fiery 90-minute televised leaders’ debate on Monday night in Auckland, Ardern stated unequivocally that abortion “shouldn’t be in the Crimes Act”. Her stance was met with a round of applause and cheering from the 400-strong studio audience of undecided voters.

Continued at source: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/05/jacinda-ardern-decriminalise-abortion-new-zealand-election

05.09.2017

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New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern: Abortion ‘shouldn’t be a crime’

Jacinda Ardern: Abortion 'shouldn't be a crime'
September 4 2017

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says abortion should not be in the Crimes Act and she would change the law.

Access to abortion is governed by the Crimes Act 1961 and the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977.

The law has not been changed since 1977, although there have been calls for it to be liberalised.

Continued at source: Stuff.co: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96494385/jacinda-ardern-abortion-shouldnt-be-a-crime

04.09.2017

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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

20.03.2017

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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: Prime Minister Bill English won’t ‘liberalise’ abortion law

Prime Minister Bill English won't 'liberalise' abortion law

by Jo Mair
March 12, 2017

Prime Minister Bill English says New Zealand's abortion law, part of the Crimes Act 1961, has "stood the test of time".

Any review of abortion law is code for "liberalising it", says Prime Minister Bill English, and that's not going to happen on his watch.

The Abortion Advisory Committee is calling for an update of New Zealand's abortion laws, which are still part of the Crimes Act 1961.

But the committee's recommendations are unlikely to make any headway under a National government, as staunchly Catholic English says it's a "law that's stood the test of time".

Continued at source: Stuff.co: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/90337753/prime-minister-bill-english-wont-liberalise-abortion-law

12.03.2017

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New Zealand: Kiwi women seeking abortions ‘have to basically lie and say they’re mentally ill’

Kiwi women seeking abortions 'have to basically lie and say they're mentally ill'
Sun, Mar 12, 2017

The Prime Minister today again downplayed the impact of his stance against changing New Zealand's abortion laws.

Bill English maintained his vote was one among many when it came to the parliament conscience vote when speaking on this morning's Breakfast programme.

"My view on that isn't that relevant actually," he said, before host Jack Tame called him out on it.

Continued at source: TVNZ: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-kiwi-women-seeking-abortions-have-basically-lie-and-say-theyre-mentally-ill

12.03.2017