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


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


Abortion in New Zealand and How We Got Here

Abortion in New Zealand and How We Got Here
Untangling the criminal history of abortions in New Zealand shows our laws have long been out of step with society.

by Laetitia Laubscher
Nov 27 2018

Abortion is legal in New Zealand but to get one most women have to lie.

In the year to June 2017, New Zealanders had 13,285 abortions, about one-fifth of all known pregnancies that year. The overwhelming majority were obtained through the circuitous, ambiguously legal method that exists in New Zealand—a system criticised by the United Nations for being an arbitrary, discriminatory mess.

Continued: https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/wj3jmx/abortion-in-new-zealand-and-how-we-got-here


New Zealand – Abortion group says legislation is ‘altering too quick’

Abortion group says legislation is ‘altering too quick’

By Marta Subat
on November 4, 2018

A group of women who have had abortions have spoken out to caution the prime minister on law reform.

It follows a report back by the Law Commission that recommended ways to decriminalise abortion.

Continued: http://infosurhoy.com/cocoon/saii/xhtml/en_GB/news/abortion-group-says-legislation-is-altering-too-quick/


New Zealand – Abortion law reform options an improvement – advocate

Abortion law reform options an improvement - advocate

27 October 2018

The Law Commission has recommended decriminalising abortion and making it simpler for a woman to get a procedure.

The minister, Andrew Little, asked the Law Commission in February for options on changing the 40-year-old law, and it reported back yesterday. Mr Little will now consult with his government partners and take a paper to Cabinet.

Continued: https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/369587/abortion-law-reform-options-an-improvement-advocate


New Zealand – Abortion not a crime if Labour delivers on law change

Abortion not a crime if Labour delivers on law change
Abortion will be decriminalised if any of three models proposed by the Law Commission are adopted.

26 October 2018
Jo Moir, Political Reporter

Justice Minister Andrew Little asked the Law Commission to provide advice on how to take abortion out of the Crimes Act and make it a health matter.

The alternative approaches include no statutory test for an abortion to take place, a statutory test performed by one health practitioner, and a statutory test performed only after 22 weeks of pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/369524/abortion-not-a-crime-if-labour-delivers-on-law-change