Abortion Without ParentalConsent Should Be Illegal

Kiwi Party
Press Release
May 16, 2011

"Parental notification, in all but exceptional circumstances, should be mandatory before a young woman of less than 16 years of age is able to have an abortion in New Zealand and is Kiwi Party policy", says Simonne Dyer deputy leader of the party.

"Parents have the primary responsibility for their daughters while they remain underage so abortion without parental consent should be illegal", continued Dyer.

"Judith Collins introduced an amendment to the Care of Children Act to that effect while in opposition and it amazes me that she has not introduced a bill to follow up on that initiative now, when as a Minister of the Crown, she is in a position to do so. Why hold a strong and principled position on this issue while on the opposition benches and then do nothing to change the law when in Government?

"Polls indicate that 80% of Kiwis favour parental notification and I think that a growing number of New Zealanders feel that their wishes are simply being ignored by the John Key led National Government.

"However we support an opt out where the pregnancy has resulted from incest, in which case the District Court should be empowered to make orders, or the young mother-to-be is afraid to tell her parents, and provisions of that kind should be included in the law change.

"It needs to be remembered that 16 is the age of consent for sexual intercourse in New Zealand and incest is a despicable crime, so those who arrange a quick abortion without parental or judicial input may also be covering up a crime which needs to be brought into the open and referred to the police.

"It is also not acceptable for parents to force their daughter to have an abortion against her wishes which is why informed and free consent before the grave decision to end a child's life by abortion, is also Kiwi Party policy", concluded Dyer.

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