Abortion Controversy in New Zealand

intro Few other issues arouse such strong emotions and passions

as abortion. The Springbok Tour of 1981 divided the nation for a year. Euthanasia surfaces as a subject of controversy from time-to-time, but abortion remains a constant minefield in any social or public gathering.

Since the first abortion clinic opened in May 1974, there have been over 284,000 recorded abortions to the end of 2002. One-in-three pregnancies now end in abortion. There were 16000 in 2010, the lowest since 2001.

Britain Much like what we saw with the homosexual movement, New

Zealand followed suit with Britain with their Abortion legislation.

The 1960s were a time of social revolution throughout the western world and inevitably the "sexual revolution" changed attitudes to abortion

In Britain, the Humanist Society, allied with the Abortion Law Reform Association, devised a successful public relations strategy to build a groundswell of support for change, culminating in the passing of the British Abortion Act on 27th October, 1967.

Historically New Zealand has been at the forefront of fighting for

contraceptive devices and techniques Ettie Route during WW1 campaigned to give our soldiers

condoms and sterilisation. She inspected French brothels and recommended clean ones to servicemen.

Early Abortions So called "backstreet" abortions were available, particularly

during the Depression era in the 1930s. Another alternative were "backdoor" abortions by doctors prepared to provide discreet services in their surgeries

But in general, single girls and young women who found themselves pregnant were directed to a support network of farms, households, or church-run institutions, until their babies were born and given up for adoption.

Cont… The Act permitted abortion if continuation of the pregnancy

risked the life or the physical and mental health of the woman. Once the law changed, opposition to abortion within the British

medical profession virtually collapsed. The practical effect of the new law was to allow abortion on request, and for years women travelled to Britain from Europe to have their abortions.

The British Abortion Act inspired pro-abortion groups and politicians to press for change in their own countries.

Lobbying techniques The architects of the successful British campaign sought to

change public opinion through personal stories of women in particularly difficult circumstances, who sought backstreet abortions. These stories of "hard cases", elicited a sympathetic response.

The message was not about seeking abortion on demand, but that a humane society should be able to provide women in the "hard case" category, with access to safe, legal abortion in a designated clinic or hospital.

Aotearoa In New Zealand, a new women’s magazine "Thursday", was

a major cultural influence in making abortion acceptable. Under editor Marcia Russell, Thursday was designed to appeal to the "thinking" woman, and the formula proved a publishing success.

Thursday was committed to social change on abortion, regularly featuring "hard case" stories. In the late 1970s, Marcia Russell was involved with a sympathetic television documentary on the Auckland Medical Aid Trust abortion clinic, which Television NZ showed on an evening prime time slot.

Opponents of abortion get organized

By the late 1960s, it was clear that abortion might soon be legalised along the lines of the 1967 British Abortion Act.

Two Auckland-based specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, Dr Pat Dunn and Professor Sir William Liley, were alarmed by developments in Britain. They noted that many more abortions were now being performed in public hospitals. Some of their colleagues were involved, and openly supportive of abortion law reform.

In 1963, Sir William had pioneered a technique for carrying out blood transfusions on unborn children, the first time an unborn child had been successfully treated as a patient

Why is that important? Dr Pat Dunn was a devout Catholic, Sir William a professed

agnostic. He was in awe of the wonders of human development from conception to birth and this enthusiasm, combined with his personal charm and medical prestige, made him a credible advocate.

Together they inspired thousands of New Zealander to join the pro-life movement. They also provided professional medical assurance that abortion involved the killing of an individual human person - however small at that stage.

The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child

The Society had three aims: To uphold the inherent value of human life To uphold and protect the rights of unborn children from

conception To maintain and improve legal, social and medical

safeguards for protecting and preserving the rights of unborn children

Controversy Ruth Kirk, Wife of Prime Minister Norman Kirk caused quite a

stir with her outspoken view on abortion. Entitled to her option it was her political pedigree that had other politicians in a huff

At this stage SPUC had a membership of 40000 1974 saw the Aotea abortion clinic open and Norman Kirk die There was also the Wall Bill which had two clauses: the first would restrict abortions to public hospitals, where there

could be a greater level of public scrutiny, and the second would ensure that doctors who were blatantly in

favour of abortion could be kept out of the decision-making process

1977 - The Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act This is the present day act that although adjusted is what we operate under. It allows;

allows for abortions to be performed for the following reasons, providing the abortion is approved by two certifying consultants and the pregnancy is less than 20 weeks old:

to save the life of the woman (even if after 20 weeks) to preserve the physical health of the woman to preserve the mental health of the woman foetal impairment in cases of incest Other factors which may be considered, but are not in themselves grounds for

abortion, are:

cases of rape certain social factors (e.g., the girl's age in a teenage pregnancy).

continued Currently there are no parental notification requirements to

have an abortion for under-sixteens.

Pro- abortionists In 1978, opponents of the new law, mounted the Repeal campaign to

get rid of the abortion laws. They attracted many well-known names to their cause. Sisters Overseas Service was established to refer pregnant women to Australia for abortions.

In Parliament, amendments were made to the new law, enabling abortion clinics to be established in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, under the control of local Hospital Boards.

By the end of 1979, the abortion figures had returned to the level of 1976, when the Royal Commission found a virtual abortion on request situation existed.

Dollar, dollar, bill, yall? In the late 70’s and 80’s numerous bills were attempted to be

put through parliament – from both sides of the argument. The Kidd Bill in particular had clauses such as; that there

were no provision for exceptional circumstances such as rape, incest or foetal abnormality.

It was time to vote. By 48 to 30 votes, Parliament opposed the introduction of the Status of the Unborn Child Bill. 20 MPs supported the Waring bill, 30 supported the Kidd bill - and 28 who opposed both bills

So… Since 1983, SPUC has never attempted to promote

legislation again. Doug Kidd had to endure personal attacks outside of Parliament, of such a nature that they have served as a salutary warning to other MPs ever since.

"MPs dread the prospect of the abortion issue being raised in the House. They prefer to live with the status quo, which is a relatively strong law on the statute books, but with abortion easily available for whoever wants it. It's cynical, but that's the way it is."