Tauranga chiropractor Peter van Zweeden passing through Te Puke on way to Wellington to protest abortion act

Peter van Zweeden on his way through Te Puke on the first day of his walk from Mount Maunganui to Wellington.

Observant locals may have spotted a lone walker heading through Te Puke last week.

He would probably have passed through unnoticed by most if it weren't for a small, pink casket strapped to his back.

The walker was Peter van Zweeden, a Tauranga chiropractor who was on the first day of a trek to Wellington.

The hastily arranged marathon was spurred on by his concern about a piece of health legislation, the Abortion Legislation Act 2020, that had its third reading on March 18 and came into effect on March 24.

Under the act, abortion is available without restrictions to any woman who is not more than 20 weeks pregnant. Women seeking an abortion after 20 weeks have to be assessed by a qualified health professional.

Peter says he is not taking a pro life or anti abortion stand, he just believes New Zealanders should be better informed and should have been given the chance to have their say before the bill was passed

''I'd like to say to the Government, there are two referendums [at the general election], why couldn't there have been a third about this.''

He says he is concerned New Zealanders seemed to have been kept in the dark about the legislation and he could either sit at home complaining about it, or do something to make people aware.

He says people are surprised when they do hear the details.

"For example, did you know that before 20 weeks you can now terminate a pregnancy for any reason - even if it's because you're expecting a girl but wanted a boy?"

He says people are also largely unaware that you can end a pregnancy right up until birth, as long as the provider thinks, as the law says vaguely, that it is 'clinically appropriate in the circumstances'.

He says he believes the terminology is too vague.

''Laws have to be precise,'' he says. ''You wouldn't have a speed limit that says drive at an 'appropriate speed'. Most people would drive sensibly, but the law isn't for them.''

Peter, who owns a healthcare clinic, started the walk at the Mount Maunganui Surf Club.

He says he is not advocating that women should be criminalised for abortion.

"Women who choose to terminate a pregnancy generally do so after a lot of thought and with much angst. Often they see it as their only valid choice – and as a society we need to offer them much more support, both before and after abortion, along with information on all their options.

"I am calling for the law to be altered to reflect the fact that all New Zealanders, born or yet to be, should be treated with respect and valued – and for politicians seeking election to listen to what people think about the legislation as it stands currently. We can do so much better."

A chiropractor with a science degree in genetics and embryology, Peter he says most people were understandably focused on preparing for lockdown when the bill came before Parliament - and so it passed largely unnoticed.

He is hoping to complete the 525km journey to Wellington by October 10.