New Zealand – ‘ALRANZ Welcomes Decision’ in NZHPA v Attorney General

Friday, 24 September, 2021

ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa welcomes the High Court’s decision in NZ Health Professionals’ Alliance v Attorney-General, which upholds ss 14 and 15 of the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 (‘CSAA’), amended in the Abortion Legislation Act 2020.

Section 14 requires health practitioners to inform patients if they have a ‘conscientious objection’ to providing abortion care, and to inform them where to access the contact details of the nearest health practitioner who provides abortions.

Continued: http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/5/393045

24.09.2021

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Abortion Legislation Act (2020)

ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa

conscientious objection

New Zealand Health Professionals Alliance

NZHPA v Attorney General

referral requirement for abortion

Health practitioners sue Crown over abortion legislation

8 March 2021

A new requirement in the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 requires a practitioner who objects to abortion to refer the patient to a doctor who can help them.

The Health Professionals' Alliance is fighting for a declaration that the new law interferes with the Bill of Rights Act.

Continued: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/437917/health-practioners-sue-crown-over-abortion-legislation

08.03.2021

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Abortion Law Reform Association

Abortion Legislation Act (2020)

Catherine Hallagan

Chris O'Brien

conscientious objection

Health Professionals Alliance

New Zealand – Why we need safe areas outside abortion clinics

Terry Bellamak | Guest writer
March 8, 2021

This week, a bill that would ensure pregnant people seeking abortion don’t have to be confronted by angry mobs outside of clinics is expected to have its first reading. Terry Bellamak explains why safe areas are so crucial for vulnerable patients.

Last March, New Zealand legalised abortion. The new law changed many things for the better – no more seeking approval of certifying consultants, no more having to lie to come within the grounds in the Crimes Act. But due to a procedural misstep, safe areas did not make it into the final version. MPs asked too late for a roll call vote. To be fair, it was late at night.

Continued: https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/08-03-2021/why-we-need-safe-areas-outside-abortion-clinics/

New Zealand – Abortion Care: Equity Not Improving Fast Enough

Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Press Release: ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa

ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa notes with disappointment that the Ministry of Health survey shows improvements to abortion care have not reached all DHBs.

While delays for early medical and surgical abortions have shortened in some DHBs, others still do not offer abortion care at all. Different DHBs do not provide medical abortions, or telemedicine, or abortions post 20 weeks gestation.

Continued: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE2012/S00067/abortion-care-equity-not-improving-fast-enough.htm

16.12.2020

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abortion after 20 weeks

ARLANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa

New Zealand passes landmark law to decriminalise abortion

New Zealand passes landmark law to decriminalise abortion
Campaigners hail move that will reclassify abortion as a health issue rather than a crime

Eleanor Ainge Roy
Wed 18 Mar 2020

New Zealand has passed a landmark bill to decriminalise abortion after decades of campaigning.

Andrew Little, the justice minister, said it was long overdue that the procedure would become classified as a health matter and not a criminal one.

The issue was scheduled to be put to a public referendum, but the government scrapped that option late on Wednesday.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/new-zealand-passes-landmark-law-decriminalise-abortion

18.03.2020

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ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa

Andrew Little

Family First New Zealand

New Zealand Crimes Act

New Zealand – Abortion reformists fuming after MPs scrap creation of ‘safe zones’ around clinics

Abortion reformists fuming after MPs scrap creation of 'safe zones' around clinics

Mar 11, 2020
Anna Bracewell-Worrall

Abortion reformists are fuming after politicians scrapped the creation of 'safe zones' outside abortion facilities because MPs were seemingly asleep at the wheel during the vote.

An element of the new abortion law would have allowed hospitals and clinics to apply for 'safe zones', where protesters couldn't interfere or interrupt patients or staff.

Continued: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/03/abortion-reformists-fuming-after-mps-scrap-creation-of-abortion-facility-safe-zones.html

11.03.2020

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Abortion Law Reform Association

Andrew Little

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Pro-choice protestors to rally around NZ for abortion law reform

Pro-choice protestors to rally around NZ for abortion law reform

Feb 18, 2020

Pro-choice protestors are set to rally around New Zealand today in support of abortion law reform.

“Now is the time for people who care about women and pregnant people to come out to the National Day of Action and show the politicians we need change," said Terry Bellamak, National President of the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand (ALRANZ).

The Abortion Legislation Bill, which passed its first reading last year at 94 votes to 23, is under a conscience vote, meaning MPs will vote in the next reading on what they individually believe, rather than along party lines.

Continued: https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/currently-currently/pro-choice-protestors-to-rally-around-nz-for-abortion-law-reform

New Zealand – 2019 Women of Influence Awards finalists announced

2019 Women of Influence Awards finalists announced
Mikaela Wilkes
Sep 01 2019

82 finalists have been announced for the 2019 Women of Influence Awards.
...
2019 was a big year for Terry Bellamak, National President ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa. The crowning achievement of which, was of course, playing a pivotal role in driving Abortion Law Reform Bill discussions.

Bellamak has been nominated for the Community Hero category. "It's an honour," to be a finalist she said. "ALRANZ is fundamentally a community group."

Continued: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/115417038/2019-women-of-influence-awards-finalists-announced

01.09.2019

ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa

Terry Bellamak

Women of Influence Awards

New Zealand

Oceania

Activism

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

NEW ZEALAND – Abortion Law Reform Bill passes first reading by wide margin

NEW ZEALAND – Abortion Law Reform Bill passes first reading by wide margin

by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
Aug 16, 2019

The long awaited, draft abortion law reform bill passed its first reading, 94 to 23, in the Parliament on 8 August 2019. “The biggest change was taking it out of the criminal code, which is very positive,” reported Jackie Edmond, head of Family Planning NZ, since abortion services were still managed through the Ministry of Justice, even though it’s a health service.

In the last 10 years, 2,566 women have been told that their request for an abortion was unjustified, according to a report from Stuff Circuit, an investigative reporting group, with data from the NZ Abortion Supervisory Committee.

ALRANZ reports that much of the new bill is great, but not everything. Here are the things Terry Bellamak says the government definitely got right:

Continued: https://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/new-zealand-abortion-law-reform-bill-passes-first-reading-by-wide-margin/