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


New Zealand – Government set to reform abortion law after 40 years

Government set to reform abortion law after 40 years

Oct 31, 2018
Tova O'Brien

Newshub can reveal Parliament looks set to vote to reform abortion law - removing it from the Crimes Act and treating it as a health issue.

Newshub asked all 121 MPs which way they would vote on abortion law - and although a lot haven't yet decided, the vast majority who have made up their minds will vote for change.

Continued: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/10/government-set-to-reform-abortion-law-after-40-years.html


New Zealand – ALRANZ Analysis: The Law Commission Reports Back

ALRANZ Analysis: The Law Commission Reports Back

Thursday, October 25, 2018

During the last election campaign Jacinda Ardern declared her intention to reform New Zealand’s abortion laws by decriminalising the procedure, and changing the law to treat abortion as a health matter.

Last February, her Minister of Justice, Andrew Little, directed the Law Commission to report back to him in eight months with options for abortion law reform.
The Law Commission has finally reported back to the Minister. Their report contains three options for the reform of New Zealand’s abortion laws.

Continued: https://www.facebook.com/notes/alranz/alranz-analysis-the-law-commission-reports-back/10157838795719027/