Abortion to move from Crimes Act?

There are hopes New Zealand will follow Ireland’s lead in changing the law around abortion soon.

The Government has asked the Law Commission for options around treating abortion as a health issue and taking it out of the Crimes Act.

“Treating it as a health matter is a really crucial distinction because health matters are governed not by moralistic arguments but by medical best practice based on peer-reviewed research. It’s evidence-based and focused on what’s best for the patient. That’s the kind of thing we want to see,” said Terry Bellamak, president of Alranz, Abortion Rights Aotearoa.

At the weekend, Republic of Ireland voters in a referendum overwhelmingly backed overturning a constitutional ban on abortion.

Ireland’s proposed legislation, expected to be in place before the end of the year, will allow abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and up to the 24th week in exceptional circumstances.

Bellamak said the Irish result was heartening, though not unexpected: “I’m really glad that this domino has now fallen.”

Minister of Justice Andrew Little has written to the Law Commission on the proposed policy shift to treat abortion as a health issue. He asked it to advise on what alternative approaches could be taken in the legal framework to align with a health approach. The commission is due to provide its advice by October.

National leader Simon Bridges said there was no need for change, with the regimen for abortions “working well”.