On 17 June 2008, the Abortion Supervisory Committee reported to Parliament with the abortion statistics for New Zealand for 2007. However Right to Life was concerned at the lack of various tables and figures in this report, and so requested that the information be released.
Below are some of the disturbing and previously unreleased statistics (all for 2007):
- 4,380 women had their second abortion.
- 1,485 women were having their third abortion.
- Only TEN abortions were performed because the mother’s life was at risk.
- 18,138 (98.7%) or abortions were performed on the grounds of “Danger to Mental Health [of the mother]”
For every three live births in New Zealand, there is approximately one abortion. 66,110 live births, 18,380 abortions recorded in 2007. 98.7% of these abortions are justified on the grounds that the mother’s mental health would be at risk if the pregnancy was taken to completion. However, a vast majoity of these abortions are illegal, because New Zealand’s law states that an abortion is only justified if it “is immediately necessary to save the life of the patient or to prevent serious permanent injury to her physical or mental health.” – Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act, Section 37 (2) 1977. The Crimes Act also, states that the only exception where an abortion is justified is if it is, “in good faith for the preservation of the life of the mother“ – Crimes Act 1961, Section 82 (2) – Killing unborn child.
The law allows for an abortion only if it is for the purpose of preserving the life of the mother, or for preventing serious permanent injury. If the law was being carried out faithfully, then the number of abortions would be closer to 10, than to the horrific figure of 18,380.
Click here to download the missing tables in PDF format.
Did you know? New Zealand law states that a child is not a “human being” until it is outside of its mother. That is absolutely arbitrary, and complete bollocks. Where you are has nothing to do with what you are.
flip, only 0.054% of abortions were to save the mother’s life! that’s disgusting!
its shocking how the govt can ignore figures like that, and say the law’s ok. grrr!