Alranz Welcomes Promise of Law Reform under Labour
ALRANZ welcomes the announcement this afternoon of a Labour-led coalition forming the next government. During the
campaign, Labour leader, now Prime Minister-elect Jacinda Ardern pledged to decriminalise abortion in New Zealand,
saying pregnant people should have access to abortion as a matter of right.
ALRANZ National President Terry Bellamak said abortion law reform has been a long time coming.
“Pregnant people in New Zealand have suffered under our ridiculous abortion bureaucracy for too long. After forty years
of scrambling to get the approval of certifying consultants, and being forced to lie about the fragility of their mental
health so they can access the medical care they need, finally Kiwis can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Abortion is a safe medical procedure that one in four Kiwi women access at some point in their reproductive lives.
Abortion is health care. It has never belonged in the Crimes Act. We look forward to the coming discussion on reforming
the law.
“It is vital Parliament carries out the task of abortion law reform in a manner that is evidence-based and
patient-focused.”
Under New Zealand’s abortion laws, two certifying consultants must approve every abortion under a narrow set of grounds
set out in the Crimes Act. Those grounds do not include rape, nor the most common reasons cited overseas: contraception
failure and the inability to support a child.
Poll results show a majority of New Zealanders support the right to access abortion on request.
ENDS