NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern defends proposed abortion law

By Boris Jancic
Political reporter, NZ Herald·NZ Herald·
5 Aug, 2019 07:04 AM7 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Focus Live: PM Jacinda Ardern faces questions about proposed abortion law

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has defended not going further with abortion law reform, saying the bill put up before Parliament needs to be able to pass.

The Government on Monday unveiled its long-awaited bill to decriminalise abortion, treat it as a health issue and reduce the legal hoops women have to go through to get access.

It's the first major reform in the area in more than four decades and will have its first reading in Parliament on Thursday.

Under current laws, women need to get clearance from two doctors on physical or mental health grounds – a process that's been described as stigmatising and too cumbersome.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The proposed changes would mean before 20 weeks' into their pregnancy women would be able to make the decision.

Later than that, the person performing the procedure would have to "reasonably believe the abortion is appropriate with regard to the pregnant woman's physical and mental health, and wellbeing".

While advocates for change have welcomed the legislation as a major step forward, they've criticised the 20-week limit.

"Why the 20-week limit? There are scans that happen around 20 weeks and this gives people little time to consider those results," Abortion Law Reform Association of NZ president Terry Bellamak said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Abortion is the only medical procedure that is still a crime in New Zealand, Justice Minister Andrew Little says. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Abortion is the only medical procedure that is still a crime in New Zealand, Justice Minister Andrew Little says. Photo / Mark Mitchell

"It's not as good as it could have been, but it's so much better than the status quo, we have to give the Government props for that."

Family Planning also said it was disappointed there was still a legal test.

"The proposed approach isn't what the broader health community, including Family Planning, recommended and is really a missed opportunity to put all women front and centre of the process," chief executive Jackie Edmond said.

The Law Commission submitted three reform options for the Government to consider in October, but the legislation has been repeatedly held up, including by negotiations with NZ First.

Discover more

New Zealand|politics

Bridges to back abortion law at first reading

05 Aug 11:49 PM
New Zealand|politics

Abortion reform: Andrew Little says no deal with Winston on referendum

06 Aug 08:00 PM
New Zealand|politics

Claire Trevett: NZ First abortion referendum ploy its second strike

07 Aug 02:50 AM
New Zealand|politics

Live: Abortion law passes first vote in Parliament 94-23

08 Aug 05:57 AM

The options included having no statutory test to make sure the abortion was appropriate at any point; taking abortion out of the Crimes Act but having a statutory test; or only having a test for later-term abortions, after 22 weeks.

Advocates had been hoping for no test, but it's been reported NZ First haggled for the 20-week rule.

Ardern on Monday defended keeping the test in the law, saying it needed to be something that could pass through Parliament in a conscience vote.

"I think this option has the greatest chance of succeeding in Parliament, and I think that's really important because one of the ultimate goals has been to modernise this legalisation," she said.

"Ultimately, it is about putting something to Parliament that has the strongest likelihood
of succeeding.

"This issue should not be in the Crimes Act."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The bill would also allow for the creation of 150-metre safe zones around specific clinics where people had been harassed by protesters.

It would prevent people from handing out pamphlets or approaching women going inside.

"We know that there are some places in New Zealand where women going to get an abortion are being harassed and intimated, are being confronted by anti-abortion protesters with their literature. It is simply inappropriate to do that," Justice Minister Andrew Little said announcing the policy on Monday.

The changes would also allow women to refer themselves to clinics without a doctor.

Parliament will hold a conscience vote on the bill on Thursday, meaning members vote individually, rather than along party lines.

Little on Monday said he was confident the bill would pass its first reading, although the numbers are not clear. It could be introduced into law before next year's election.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Green Party has thrown its backing behind the first reading, but the remaining parties will likely be split.

If the legislation passes on Thursday, it will then go to a special Select Committee for feedback.

"It will be close," Ardern said.

"What I'd hope is that members of Parliament will give members of the public a chance to have a say on the issue by seeing this bill passed at first reading."

Advocates say they'll push for it to go further when they make submissions.

Meanwhile, conservative lobby group Family First has vowed to run a strong campaign against the legislation.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Under the current law, an unborn child is at least afforded some recognition and minimal legal protection. In contrast, these proposals will give the unborn child the same status as an appendix, tonsils or gall bladder – simply tissue removed as part of a 'health procedure'," spokeswoman Gina Sunderland said.

How many people get abortions now?

There were about 13,000 abortions performed in New Zealand last year, according to Statistics New Zealand. Only 57 of those took place after 20 weeks' pregnancy. On a per-capita basis the rate has been falling the past decade.

Why do we need reform if people are already getting abortions?
Advocates for change say New Zealand's 42-year-old abortion law, and particularly having abortion in the Crimes Act, is outdated and puts unnecessary burden on women. They say they current system makes women feel stigmatised, takes too long and limits access in rural areas.

So how is the new law different?

It will mean women won't need any doctor's permission to seek an abortion before 20 weeks' pregnancy. After 20 weeks they'll need one health practioner's approval. Currently, women need clearance from two doctors on grounds of mental or physical risk from day one. About 98 per cent of current abortions are performed under the mental health clause. After 20 weeks an abortion currently needs to save the life of the woman.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Crimes Act?

Medical practioners who breach the law will now be dealt with by medical authorities, rather than through the Crimes Act. However, under the proposed law it will still be a crime for an unqualified person to try to perform an abortion and causing the death of an unborn child by harming a pregnant woman will remain an offence.

Will doctors have to participate?

No. Doctors will still be able to object on conscience grounds, but they'll have to point patients towards services elsewhere.

Will access in rural areas improve?

Advocates say letting women go to an abortion provider without a doctor's permission first (self-referring) will mean more people will be able to get access to early, non-surgical abortions. Those can be performed at smaller clinics that don't have full surgical equipment, making smaller clinics in more remote areas more viable.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Safety zones?

The bill would let authorities set up 150-metre safe areas around specific abortion clinics if those going there have been harassed. They would prevent protesters from handing out literature or approaching people going inside. Little says there's enough evidence to suggest the power might be needed down the line.

How widely is change supported?

A Newshub-Reid Research poll carried in March found about 70 per cent of people support taking abortion out of the Crimes Act.

Is there opposition?

Yes. Groups such as Family First have vowed to fiercely fight the bill. They say the changes are radical and treat abortions like cutting out an "appendix, tonsils or gall bladder".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

What happens now?

Parliament will hold the first reading and vote on the bill on Thursday. MPs will vote individually, not by party lines. It's expected to pass, but the numbers aren't clear yet. If it passes, a Select Committee will hear submissions for the public about making possible changes. It could be law before next year's election.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

'Real relief': Two teen hikers rescued after one swept down Ngatiawa River

18 May 09:22 AM
New Zealand|crime

Abused, addicted but not deported: Mum of six avoids 501 deportation after armed robbery

18 May 07:00 AM
New Zealand

Heavy rain hits Auckland with possible thunderstorms forecast tonight

18 May 06:03 AM

The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

'Real relief': Two teen hikers rescued after one swept down Ngatiawa River

'Real relief': Two teen hikers rescued after one swept down Ngatiawa River

18 May 09:22 AM

They were returning from an overnight hike to Kapakapanui Hut when the weather changed.

Abused, addicted but not deported: Mum of six avoids 501 deportation after armed robbery

Abused, addicted but not deported: Mum of six avoids 501 deportation after armed robbery

18 May 07:00 AM
Heavy rain hits Auckland with possible thunderstorms forecast tonight

Heavy rain hits Auckland with possible thunderstorms forecast tonight

18 May 06:03 AM
Man fighting for his life after South Auckland assault, police hunting three offenders

Man fighting for his life after South Auckland assault, police hunting three offenders

18 May 05:16 AM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP