Minister of Justice
Pānui Pāpāho
Media Statement
26 October 2018
Justice Minister Andrew Little received today the Law Commission’s briefing on alternative approaches to abortion law.
“Our abortion law is over forty years old, starts with the proposition that an abortion is a crime. In February, I asked
the Law Commission for advice on treating abortion as a health matter could look like,” Andrew Little said.
“I would like to thank the Law Commission for its extensive work on the briefing paper. I asked the Commission to gather
the public’s views, and they received comprehensive submissions,” said Andrew Little.
“I acknowledge that the subject of abortion is a personal one for each MP. I will be taking time to talk to my
colleagues across all parties about the Law Commission’s briefing before progressing further,” Andrew Little said.
The Law Commission received just under 3,500 submissions from the public, as well as meeting with a range of health
sector bodies in developing its briefing paper.
The Law Commission’s briefing examines what abortion law could look like if abortion was treated as a health issue. The
paper outlines:
• three models for when abortion is available
• changes to:
o the criminal aspects of abortion law
o access to abortion services, where abortions are performed, and by whom
o the oversight of abortion services
• related issues, such as women’s informed consent, counselling services, and conscientious objection by health
practitioners.
The Law Commission’s briefing paper is available at here: www.lawcom.govt.nz/abortion
ends