The latest NZ abortion statistics are no cause for celebration

Family Life International NZ welcomes today’s news that the number of abortions occurring annually in New Zealand dropped slightly in 2009, however they also warn that this decrease in abortions must be put into a proper context, and that these figures are no cause for celebration.

“The latest figures from Statistics New Zealand show that the number of abortions per 1000 live births, still births and abortions has actually increased” says Family Life International NZ media spokesperson Brendan Malone.

“In 2008 we had 217 abortions per 1000 live births, still births and abortions, but last year that figure rose to 218 abortions per 1000 live births, still births and abortions.”

“When you stop and consider that just 29 years ago there were only 105 abortions per 1000 live births, still births and abortions in this country, a number that is less than half of the current figure, you quickly realize that New Zealand still has a long way to go in addressing the problem of abortion.”

“This isn’t a failure of systems or preventative measures, instead it speaks of a failure to engage in a proper and honest philosophical discourse about the ethical and moral nature of the act of abortion itself” says Brendan Malone.

“Your average Kiwi, even those who identify as ‘pro-choice’, will probably think that a reduction in the number of abortions is a good thing, which of course is true, but in light of this fact we need to be asking ourselves, if there is nothing ethically or morally problematic about abortion, then why would we have any reason to celebrate a decrease in its occurrence?”

ENDS

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