According to a report by the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, data from the Ministry of Health shows that the number of legal abortions in the country decreased from 1,076 in 2020 to 107 in 2021 following changes to the country's abortion law.

In October 2020, the Constitutional Court ruled the law's exception for fetal defects violated the constitutionally protected right to life. The exception had permitted physicians to recommend and perform abortions in cases with a "high probability of severe and irreversible impairment of the fetus or an incurable disease threatening its life."

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After a decade of falling numbers, the Ministry of Health says 13,246 abortions were performed last year.

This number compared to 12,857 in 2019 and 16,630 in 2010.

The mean age of those having an abortion last year was 28; 40 percent of all abortions were for those aged over 30.

The report says the changes decriminalised abortion, allowed self-referral to abortion services and created provisions for abortions to occur in a range of settings, including primary care.

It also notes a big spike in women having their pregnancies terminated in the Southern District Health Board area. It says there was a 12 percent increase in abortion numbers between 2019 and 2020 - up from 847 to 956.

The increase was largely driven by an increase in abortions at The Women's Clinic in Invercargill. Four hundred abortions were carried out at the clinic in 2020 compared with 235 the year before.

Elsewhere in New Zealand, two facilities started providing abortions for the first time last year — Timaru Hospital and the Family Planning Clinic in Whangarei.

The report writers consider it positive that access to abortion services had not decreased due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

They also note changes to the timing of abortions. Last year 45 percent were accessed before eight weeks' gestation, up from 27 percent in 2019.

The Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand president Terry Bellamak said early abortions were better for people. They did not have to remain pregnant for as long and the earlier the abortion, the safer it was, Bellamak says.

‘‘Reducing delay was a key benefit of removing abortion from the Crimes Act and treating it like all other healthcare."

‘‘Actual reduction in delay, as expected, shows the new abortion system is working much better than the old one."

Pope's advice

Pope Francis has some advice for healthcare workers caught between abortion law changes and their employment.

Legislation legalising abortion makes no difference to it being wrong, he told a group of pharmacists and other medical professionals who met him at the Vatican last weekend.

All healthcare professionals have a right to conscientious objection, just as they have a right to denounce unjust harm inflicted on innocent and defenseless life, he said.

"I have been very clear — it [abortion] is homicide and it is not licit to become complicit.

"Abortion is still morally wrong and healthcare workers should refuse to be part of it."

The "ethical dimension" of healthcare workers' and pharmacists' professions must be supported and protected, he said.

As individuals, all pharmacists handle "medicinal products that may, however, turn into poison."

Francis advised them to be vigilant to make sure their goal always is to protect "the life of the patient in all of its aspects," he said.

"You are always at the service of human life, and this may, in certain cases, lead to conscientious objection, which is not disloyalty, rather the opposite, (it is) loyalty to your profession, if validly motivated."

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• ODT
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The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, revolves around a Mississippi law passed in 2018 that bans all abortions after 15 weeks "except in a medical emergency or in the case of a severe fetal abnormality." The ban was blocked by lower courts who argued it violated previous Supreme Court rulings.

The case centers on whether states are permitted to ban abortions before a fetus can survive outside the womb. It is seen as a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, a landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion nationwide.

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It also removes the legal test for the procedure up until 20 weeks.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops are deeply disappointed with the abortion law changes.

"This Bill totally ignores the fact that there are always at least two human lives involved in every pregnancy," said a spokesperson for the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference, Ms Cynthia Piper.

Click here to read the full statement.

The abortion law change cut across some of the lines that usually divide the Labour Party and the National Party.

Justice Minister Andrew Little said the issue was "tempered with very deeply held views with great passions" and that the public and members on all sides of the House, some he considered friends, had very entrenched views.

Retiring National MP, Amy Adams said of those who were voting against the Bill: "their views are their own."

Adams noted that throughout the debate on the abortion law change some people in the House, particularly those supporting the Bill, said they respected "the rights, and the views of everyone in this house and their views in the debate are all valid."

"Interestingly enough, I haven't heard that much of those views expressed by the voice of those opposing this legislation," she said.

"And I find it somewhat staggering that those who preach freedom of expression and religious tolerance the most are the least tolerant of those who are supporting this legislation."

"And yet we run the risk of allowing a very vocal minority, largely, in my view, directed by the religious leaders across New Zealand, although I accept that may not be true for all, to derail important legislative reform," she said.

National MPs who voted against the Bill
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Maggie Barry, Andrew Bayly, Simon Bridges, Simeon Brown, Gerry Brownlee, Jacqui Dean, Sarah Dowie, Paulo Garcia, Paul Goldsmith, Nathan Guy, Joanne Hayes, Harete Hipango, Matt King, Denise Lee, Melissa Lee, Agnes Loheni, Tim Macindoe, Todd McClay, Ian McKelvie, Todd Muller, Alfred Ngaro, Simon O'Connor, Parmjeet Parmar, Christopher Penk, Maureen Pugh, Shane Reti, Alastair Scott, Nick Smith, Louise Upston, Tim van den Molen, Hamish Walker, Michael Woodhouse, Jonathan Young, Lawrence Yule (35)

Labour MPs who voted against the Bill.
Damien O'Connor, Greg O'Connor, Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki, Nanaia Mahuta, Adrian Rurawhe, Jenny Salesa, Jamie Strange, Rino Tirikatene, Meka Whaitiri (9)

NZ First MPs who voted against the Bill
Darroch Ball, Shane Jones, Ron Mark, Clayton Mitchell, Mark Patterson, Winston Peters, Fletcher Tabuteau (7 MPs)

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"The safe zone provision was always the most marginally supported," Little said.

The abortion law bill was going through the committee stage on Tuesday evening and into the early hours of Wednesday.

ACT leader David Seymour had proposed an amendment to remove safe areas from the bill.

His proposal was voted for in two parts.

The first vote was to have the definition of Safe Zones removed from the bill.

It was rejected by a margin, 59 votes to 56.

The second vote was on removing all the legal provisions for safe zones, including the ways in which the police could administer them.

Deputy Speaker Anne Tolley passed it on a verbal vote.

So the definition of 'safe area' became redundant in the law.

Green MP Jan Logie immediately asked for clarification on what had happened.

"Can I just check the vote and how it evolved around David Seymour's SOP (Supplementary Order Papers) and what the outcome of that vote is... I just wanted to check and to see if I needed to change my vote".

Tolley advised it was a "vote on the voices" and the "amendment was agreed to".

Logie sought leave for a personal vote, but this was rejected.

The proposed safe zones would set up a regime where a protest against abortion could be barred within 150 metres of clinics.

Seymour was concerned that the safe areas violated wider principles of free speech.

MPs who are for the safe zones have indicated they may try to re-introduce them.

National MP Nikki Kaye said it would be up to the House to decide whether or not to revisit the issue.

Green MP Jan Logie said she was looking at options to reinstate them.

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"Currently it's only available for exceptional circumstances, danger to the life and health of the mother, or the child," said McCoskrie

"But in this bill after 20 weeks gestation, a baby could be aborted as long as the practitioner who is going to perform the abortion, and immediately there's a conflict of interest, considers it appropriate in the circumstances."

He said he wanted to further restrict the pre-existing legislation from 20 weeks to the point where there is a foetal heartbeat.

But in her submission, `ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa president Terry Bellamak said such a provision would give people almost no chance to get an abortion in most cases.

"At six weeks an embryo does not have a heart, what is does have is an electrical pulse in the part that's going to eventually develop into a heart, that can be detected at six weeks and that's before most people even know that they're pregnant."

There were about 13,000 abortions performed in New Zealand last year, according to Statistics New Zealand.

57 of those took place after 20 weeks' pregnancy.

Under the existing law, those seeking an abortion require legal certification from two consultants that having a child would damage their physical or mental health.

There are even more stringent provisions after 20 weeks.

Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand (ALRANZ) and the Family First were the only ones to make submissions on Tuesday.

The parliamentary Abortion Legislation Select Committee is taking submissions on the proposed Abortion Legislation Bill.

It will report back in February.

The bill passed its first reading, 94 in favour 23 against.

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The New Zealand Catholic bishops have sent a message to church members encouraging them to inform themselves about the issue and to take some action while the revision is under consideration.

Click here to see a comparison between the existing and the proposed legislation and a list of points for anyone who wishes to make a submission to consider.

In their message, the bishops say: " every pregnancy involves at least two lives - the child and the mother. Every abortion takes away an innocent life."

"Protecting and caring for life from conception to natural death stands at the core of our Catholic faith. From the moment an embryo comes into existence, a genetically and spiritually unique human life has begun," the bishops say.

"It is already the human being it will always be. It will only grow in size and complexity and is therefore entitled to be treated with the same respect as other human beings."

The bishops suggest three ways of responding to the present situation.

Political
We are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We have an obligation to advocate for the right to life of the unborn child and the well-being of mothers. We encourage every one of you to exercise your democratic right to make a submission to parliament and to contact your local MP.

Prayerful
Every human life is a gift from God. Just as parents spontaneously pray for their unborn child, so we are called to pray for all the unborn, as well as for their parents and extended families. We also pray for wisdom for our MPs.

Pastoral:
Our belief in the sanctity of life is demonstrated in the way we show love for both unborn children and their mothers. The message others hear from us will be shaped not just by our words, but also by the way in which we speak and act. We need to ask: ‘After this debate is over, will our faith communities be seen as places of love, compassion and care that women facing the challenges of a pregnancy will want to turn to?'

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• Supplied: catholic.org.nz
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However, they look forward to contributing to what they hoped would be an honest, respectful dialogue that explored the complexities surrounding abortion.

The Bishops hear about abortion from a wide community of Catholic women and men said Cynthia Piper, speaking on behalf of the Bishops Conference.

"They are also informed by the work of Catholic agencies who support the well-being of women and families,"

Piper said, "We will be looking closely at the proposed new law and studying the other proposed changes concerning doctors' freedom of conscience, the ready availability and desirability of counselling for women and the suggestion of safe zones around abortion facilities.

The Bishops issued a press release which makes the following points:

Making abortions easier to get does not address serious underlying issues.

There needs to be a stronger focus on strengthening and extending policies and organisations that support women who are pregnant.

It is an acknowledged fact that, too often, a woman chooses abortion because of poverty, social shaming, lack of community support, coercion from a partner or family or isolation.

Insufficient protection for a defenceless human life

• For society to pretend that there is not another life involved will only deny the woman concerned the chance to deal with her abortion as the significant and heart-wrenching moral issue that it is
• Abortion is both a justice issue and a health issue

The Bishops:

• Strongly support statutory recognition in the present law to the rights of the unborn
• Are concerned that the proposed new law seeks to do away with any ‘tests' for women up to 20 weeks gestation
• Are disquieted that there is only a very vague ‘medical test' for women who are more than 20 weeks pregnant

A disservice to women

• The issues raised by abortion are many and they include both the immediate and long-term psychological, mental and emotional consequences of abortion
• These consequences affect both women and men and impact on their other significant relationships

Source

• Supplied Ko te Huinga Pihopa o te Hahi Katorika o Aotearoa/The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC)
• Image: righttolife.org

"You should pay attention to other parties' policies. I know what their policy is," he said referring to Labour's election campaign.

"They campaigned on it. We didn't," Peters told Sky News on Thursday morning.

He also said that that there was no mention of abortion law changes in the Labour-New Zealand First coalition agreement.

New Zealand First will ask for a referendum

Peters has confirmed that the party would seek to add a referendum to the bill at its committee stage.

Justice Minister Andrew Little was taken by surprise, saying it was "a bit unusual" to raise it at this stage.

Peters said that Little should not have been surprised to learn that the party would push for a referendum on abortion law reform.

He said it has long been the party's policy to seek a public mandate on conscience issues.

Peters says he's not concerned that Little has said he doesn't want there to be a referendum on the abortion bill.

"So that's one member of 120, he's got one vote just like everybody else.

"What about the other 119, let's find out from them", Peters said.

Martin apologies

The proposed law changes followed a series of consultations with New Zealand First MP Tracey Martin.

She told RNZ on Tuesday morning that the party had no plans to push for a referendum on the abortion bill.

On Thursday Martin told reporters one NZ First MP had at their caucus meeting announced she would be putting forward an amendment and that she went to see Little to tell him about it about 1 pm on Tuesday.

"And I apologised for the fact it had never come up," she said.

That left Little facing questions about why he had told media he had not heard about the referendum at about 2 pm.

It was "only a minute's difference", he said.

The debate begins

On Thursday afternoon Justice Minister Andrew Little introduced the bill.

He paid tribute to National Party leader Simon Bridges who supported the bill at first reading, despite his Christian, conservative background.

In her speech, prime minister Jacinda Ardern asked those who disagreed with abortion not to allow their views to impede the rights of others.

National MP Agnes Loheni said abortion was a lifestyle choice.

"The reality is for the vast majority of women who decide to terminate their pregnancy do so for material reasons in their lives," she said.

Labour MP Apuito William Sio said he was personally opposed to abortion but would vote in favour of the bill to improve it at select committee.

"I do not support abortion, but I am on the record that I support a woman's right to choose," he said.

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• nzherald.co.nz
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The bill will be voted on in a conscience vote.

The first reading is likely to be on Thursday.

Salient aspects of the proposed legislation

• Abortion is removed from the crimes act.
• A woman who is not more than 20 weeks pregnant can self-refer to an abortion provider without the need for any statutory test. Last year only 57 of the more than 13,000 abortions performed were for a woman who was more than 20 weeks pregnant.
• A woman who is more than 20 weeks pregnant must consult a health practitioner.
• The health professional may approve an abortion after 20 weeks if the practitioner reasonably believes the abortion is appropriate given the pregnant woman's physical and mental health and well-being.
• It ensures health professionals advise women of the availability of counselling services if they are considering an abortion or have had an abortion. Counselling, however, is not mandatory.
• Safe areas around specific abortion facilities may be established by regulation on a case-by-case basis. This was not one of the recommendations of the Law Commission, which suggested it "could not see a strong case" for excluding protesters, but did say the issue warranted further consideration.
• Practitioners who object to providing abortions on the grounds of conscience must inform the pregnant women about their objection and inform the woman that she can obtain the services elsewhere.
• It will still be a criminal offence for unqualified people who attempt to procure an abortion on a pregnant woman or supply the means for obtaining an abortion.
• It will still be a criminal offence to cause the death of a fetus by causing harm to a pregnant woman.

In October last year the Law Commission recommended three options for reform:

a) There is no test - the woman decides with her health practitioner.

b) There is a test - the woman would need to prove the abortion is appropriate.

c) There is a test only for later-term abortions - beyond 22 weeks.

Some commentators say the government has gone with the most conservative of the options.

Voice for Life spokesperson Kate Cormack said the Bill was "radical" and "extremely disturbing".

Reform campaigners, on the other hand, are pleased with the changes, but some feel they have not gone far enough.

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Justice Minister Andrew Little has been looking at potential changes to New Zealand's four-decade-old abortion laws, including whether to take abortion out of the Crimes Act, since early last year. Read more

"Is it licit to throw away a life to resolve a problem?" he challenged conference delegates.

"Is it licit to hire a hitman to resolve a problem?"

Abortion can never be condoned, he said.

Instead of suggesting abortion, he urged doctors and priests to support families to carry pregnancies to term, even when the foetus is gravely sick or likely to die.

Francis also spoke out against decisions to abort based on prenatal testing, saying a human being is "never incompatible with life".

Infants who are destined to die at or shortly after birth deserve to receive medical care in the womb, Francis said.

In addition, he said their parents need to be supported so they don't feel isolated and afraid.

While one can argue about using medical resources this way, there is value to it for the parents.

"Taking care of these children helps parents to grieve and not only think of it as a loss, but as a step on a path taken together," Francis said.

While Francis has often spoken out strongly against abortion, he has also expressed sympathy for women who have had them and made it easier for them to be absolved of the sin of abortion.

His comments come as the abortion debate is again making headlines in the United States, where state initiatives are currently seeking to restrict the procedure.

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• AP
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