Abortion Stats For New Zealand

Update appears below

Yesterday, New Zealand issued its abortion statistics for 2006.

At least they are prompt with release of child killing figures, a virtue which does not characterize Canada. Our latest official figures are at least 3 years out of date.

Abortion Statistics: 2006

Thursday, 14 June 2007, 11:08 am

Press Release: Statistics New Zealand Abortion Statistics: 2006

The number of abortions performed in New Zealand increased slightly in the year ended December 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today. A total of 17,930 induced abortions were performed in New Zealand in the December 2006 year, 400 (2.3 percent) more than in 2005 (17,530). This follows decreases of 3.7 percent between 2004 and 2005, and 1.6 percent between 2003 and 2004.

The general abortion rate (abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years) increased from 19.7 per 1,000 in 2005 to 20.0 per 1,000 in 2006. In 1996, the general abortion rate was 17.3 per 1,000.

Women aged 20–24 years had more abortions than other age groups. Their abortion rate was 37 abortions per 1,000 women aged 20–24 years in 2006, unchanged from 2005.

The median age of women having an abortion has remained stable over the last twenty years, at around 25 years.

Dallas Welch (Mrs)
Acting Government Statistician

Today, there is commentary.

MPs reject attempts to change faces on all-new abortion panel

Independent MP Gordon Copeland opened the debate.

"As far as I can tell, New Zealand's abortion rate is now the highest in the Western world," he said.

Speech: Abortion Supervisory Committee Debate

Mr Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, when I contemplate the reality of abortion, I cannot comprehend that there are some 18,000 abortions each and every year in New Zealand. I visualise those lost lives as children and I have no doubt that they would be great Kiwi kids. Our society suffers great loss through their absence.

I'm glad he said that and he sounds so fair minded doesn't he, but listen to the next typical politician comment.

I cannot think of abortion, however, without also thinking of the women with child who are faced with the agonising choice of whether or not to terminate.

So if a woman faces an agonizing choice, she may kill her unborn child, the one who would otherwise have made a great "Kiwi kid." This is evil rhetoric.

Abortion figures continue to be a tragedy
Press Release from Bob McCoskrie, National director of the Family First Lobby in New Zealand with words that need saying.

Update: A news release from Family Life International