3 January 2026
Pretoria Gordon
A sexual and reproductive health specialist says a recent rise in abortion numbers reflects improved access to care rather than an increase in demand.
There has been a 37 percent increase since abortion was decriminalised in New Zealand - from 12,948 in 2019 to 17,785 in 2024.
The Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 and the Crimes Act 1961 were amended in March 2020.
Tracy Neal
Mon, 15 Dec 2025
A pregnant woman was left distressed and embarrassed when the doctor she went to see about an abortion consulted her in the busy waiting room area of the clinic.
The woman was in the early stages of an unexpected pregnancy when she visited the GP clinic in August 2021, in the thick of Covid-19 lockdowns, to request a referral for a termination of pregnancy.
The international student, described as having “very limited English”, was also told to “make an appointment after lockdown” when it was not known how long lockdown would continue.
Continued: https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/gp-criticised-for-discussing-abortion-process-at-clinic-front-desk-hdc-report/
10 September 2025
By Shelley Tweedie, Midwife Manager, Kaitaia Hospital (Auckland, New Zealand)
International Confederation of Midwives
In 2020, New Zealand reformed its abortion laws, removing abortion from the Crimes Act and reframing it as a health issue. This landmark change opened the door for a broader range of healthcare professionals—including midwives—to provide early medical abortion (EMA) care. Our profession is embedded in values of partnership, autonomy, and holistic support so this legal shift marked a profound opportunity to deepen our commitment to women and reproductive autonomy.
Midwives are uniquely positioned to provide abortion care, especially in underserved areas. Our accessibility, trustworthiness, and holistic approach make us ideal providers of EMA services. As a rural midwife, I’ve embraced this change and expanded my scope of practice to include EMA care. This article shares my journey and the impact this has had on my community.
28 April 2025
Monique Steele
Access to abortion and contraceptive healthcare has improved in New Zealand in recent years, but there are concerns women who live in remote or rural areas face greater challenges to accessing this care than their urban-dwelling counterparts.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health reviewed certain matters under the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act (1977), and how the law was working in the years following a legislative change which decriminalised abortion and integrated other health services to it, in 2020.
8 April 2025
The first periodic Review of Certain Matters under the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 is available now.
As the steward of the health system, the Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora plays an important role in ensuring public safety and quality through our regulation and monitoring functions. This includes the administration of the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 (the CSA Act).
This first review builds the foundations for the next periodic review and shows us where to prioritise our ongoing monitoring and regulation.
8 April 2025
This research report was commissioned by the Ministry to help inform the Review of Certain Matters under the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977. It was one of three reports commissioned for three different consumer groups.
The research report focuses on the experiences of rainbow people and provides insights into how abortion health care services are perceived and accessed by this group since changes to the law in 2020.
Individual themes from the report for rainbow people: The overarching theme from the report of rainbow people involved the structural heteronormative discrimination of the health system against the rainbow community. A central component of this discrimination was a lack of recognition of the reproductive potential, ability and needs of the rainbow population.
No change to abortion laws, new Health Minister Simeon Brown promises
Jan 21, 2025
Anneke Smith, Political reporter
Newly-appointed Health Minister Simeon Brown says abortion rights and access to services won't change under his watch. Brown's opposition to abortion has been on the public record for years, having led a pro-life group at university and voted against law reform in 2020.
Both he and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have been quick to snub suggestions Brown's promotion to the health portfolio at the weekend could change abortion rights or access. "Every politician has views but what I'm saying is my personal views have been on the public record but we're not changing the legislation," Brown told reporters in Hamilton on Wednesday morning.
17 December 2024
The Ministry of Health has published the Abortion Services Aotearoa New Zealand: Annual Report 2024. This provides a snapshot of abortion services for the 2023 calendar year. The findings within this report highlight continued improvements following both the 2020 law reform and the 2022 health reforms.
… Summary of key findings
Abortion numbers have increased by 14.9% compared to 2022 reporting. This is likely due to service access improvements such as telehealth and easier access to medicines through collection directly from pharmacies.
Nov 29, 2024
Before abortion was decriminalised in the late 1970s, generations of New Zealand women had to risk their own lives to terminate a pregnancy.
Some took pills and potions from back-street chemists, others threw themselves down staircases, took rugged horse rides, drank gin in the bath and inserted coat hangers into their vaginas.
Until the 1970s, about 20 women a year died as a result of abortions gone wrong, historian Jock Phillips tells RNZ's Nine to Noon, and this difficult aspect of Aotearoa's history deserves to be better understood.
Continued: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/535258/remembering-the-lives-lost-to-illegal-abortion-in-nz
11 July 2024
The Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora has published a position statement on ‘abortion reversal’ to warn New Zealanders against this unsafe and scientifically unsupported practice.
The Ministry does not support or recognise the practice, which is aimed at reversing the effects of taking early medical abortion (EMA) medication. The Ministry is concerned about reports ‘abortion reversals’ may be offered in New Zealand.
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