The median age of women having an abortion was 25-years-old.
Sixty two per cent of abortions were a woman's first abortion.
Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand president Morgan Healey said it was hopeful that the drop was the result of an increased access to contraception and the ability of women to choose the timing, spacing and number of children.
"While I am always happy to see a decrease in the abortion figures, which I hope is reflective of the ability of women in New Zealand to have autonomy over their bodies and reproductive decisions, I continue to doubt the Government's commitment to women's equality," Dr Healey said.
The Government's announcement that free contraception would be offered to those on a benefit was a veiled attack on women, she said.
"Taken in isolation, these don't necessarily appear to be restricting women's autonomy, and are often seen as positives.
"However, I worry that an increased focus on what women are doing with their bodies is a slippery slope to enacting policies that seek to restrict sexual and reproductive rights further," she said.
Family First New Zealand national director Bob McCoskrie said he too welcomed the statistics, but raised concern around teenage abortion rates.
An average of 55 teenagers had an abortion each week, he said, amounting to almost one fifth of all abortions last year.
"It is incorrect to label abortion as 'pro-choice', because nobody chooses to be in the situation of an unwanted pregnancy and having to make such a difficult decision."
The rights of women need to be protected so they can make a fully informed decision based on medical facts, he said.
