Right to Life New Zealand

Upholding the sanctity of life in New Zealand and Standing Against the Killing

Letter to Winston Peters and NZ First MP’s

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11 July 2019

Rt. Hon. Winston Peters MP,

Dear Minister,

I am writing to you in defence of our precious unborn and their mothers who are under an unprecedented attack.

The State has a serious duty to protect the lives of all members of the human family. The option preferred by the Minister of Justice would remove this protection.  It is contended that in upholding your commendable policy opposing the decriminalisation of abortion and acting in the best interests of the unborn and their mothers, NZ First should refrain from supporting this bill through cabinet and oppose the bill at its first and any subsequent readings. Any bill that seeks to make the killing of the defenceless unborn “a reproductive health service” represents an unprecedented attack on the sanctity of life.  

Right to Life commends NZ First for its defence of the lives of our precious unborn and their mothers. We are aware that NZ First is the only party in Parliament that has a policy to oppose the decriminalisation of abortion. I recall that at the Family First Conference in Auckland in 2014 when you were interviewed by Bob McCoskrie, you stated that “abortions should be legal, safe and rare”. You were asked if you supported the Green’s policy of decriminalising abortion, you replied “no we don’t”. You then said that you believed that life began at conception and that the child had a right to life.

It is reported in the media that your caucus is committed to supporting a bill through cabinet that would remove the killing of the unborn by abortion from the Crimes Act and make the killing of the unborn “a reproductive choice for women”. It is the wish of the Prime Minister to remove the stigma associated with the killing of the unborn and to make the killing of the child no longer a crime, but a health service.

The sanctity of life of the unborn and its right to life are protected under the Crimes Act section 182 Killing unborn child and section 183 Procuring abortion by any means. It is a serious crime to kill a child in the womb. Every- one who violates these sections is liable to imprisonment for up to 14 years. This legal protection has been there since 1856, we change it at our peril. 

The Royal Commission in its report to Parliament in 1977 said, on upholding the status of the unborn child. “The unborn child as one of the weakest, the most vulnerable and most defenceless forms of humanity, should receive protection. From a biological point of view there is no argument as to when life begins. Evidence was given to us by eminent scientists from all over the world. None of them suggested that human life begins at any other time than at conception.” In rejecting the argument that some degree of development should be reached before the unborn child be accorded status, the Commission said, “If some stage of physical or mental development has to be accepted as indicating whether or not human life is in being, so a stage may be reached at the other end of life where a person who has become senile or has lost consciousness may be disposed of.”

The unborn child is the weakest and most defenceless member of the human family and needs special legal protection. Every day in New Zealand nearly thirty-five children in the womb are violently destroyed and their mothers the second victim of abortion, are left with a life time of grief and sorrow. Our women deserve better.

A poll of a 1,000 respondents conducted by Curia Market Research on behalf of Family First in December 2017, revealed that 96% of NZ First voters were opposed to sex selection abortions. That 38% were opposed to abortions being performed after 15 weeks and a further 10 % were opposed to abortions being done at all. 73 % were opposed to abortions and wanted them reduced.

If we as a society deny the humanity of the unborn, then logically we will one day deny the humanity of those who are suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s. The denial of the humanity and right to life of the unborn is a threat to the right to life of every citizen.

The decriminalisation of abortion will;

  • Allow for sex selection abortions, which are currently unlawful.
  • Allow for abortion up to birth for babies with a disabiliy including Down Syndrome.
  • Not protect women seeking an abortion because they are subject to violence and coercion.

In conclusion, Right to Life requests that you withdraw support for the decriminalisation of abortion and that you use your influence to have the current unlawful abortion on demand stopped. Please promote adoption as a loving option.

Thank you for all that you are doing to defend life, protecting women from the violence of abortion and promoting the common good.

Yours sincerely,

Ken Orr

Secretary.

Prime Minister Applauded for Opposing Euthanasia Referendum

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Right to Life applauds the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern for her leadership in upholding the right of Parliament to make laws rather than abdicating that responsibility to the public in a referendum. The issues surrounding euthanasia and in particular the ill-conceived and life threatening End of Life Choice bill, (ELOCB), are still very poorly understood by a great many people.

The Prime Minister rightly disagrees with the Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters, who is demanding that a binding referendum be held as a condition of continuing support from NZ First for this bill, which has the full support of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister was quoted in the NZ Herald as saying, “My view is that a referendum isn’t required to ensure that the voice of New Zealanders has been heard and to reflect the will of Parliament and the people they represent,” she said.

“I will be voting for the bill to continue as it stands.”

Right to Life urges Parliament to support the Prime Minister in opposing an amendment expected to be proposed by David Seymour, or Winston Peters to make the EOLCB subject to a binding referendum.

Euthanasia is about doctors killing their patients or assisting in their suicide, it is intrinsically evil, no referendum can legitimise that which is evil. The prohibition against taking the life of another human being is the foundation of the law and medicine. It is always wrong to kill another innocent human being. The approval of the community, even in a referendum, can never make murder acceptable. A referendum in this regard, is an attempt to seduce and implicate the whole community in the murder of the vulnerable. The most fundamental medical ethic of not killing or helping patients kill themselves must not be reduced to an opinion poll.

Right to Life is implacably opposed to a referendum because it is based on the false and dangerous premise that the community has a right to decide who shall be allowed to be killed. This presumption is a violation of the inalienable right to life of every member of the community.

A binding referendum that resulted in support for the Seymour bill would also impose an intolerable burden on the conscience of parliamentarians who are opposed to the murder of the vulnerable. It would be a serious dereliction of duty for Parliament to support a binding referendum. Parliament must not shamefully shirk its responsibility to protect the lives of the community by cowardly washing its hands and imposing that responsibility onto the community.

Right to Life earnestly requests that our parliamentarians vote to defeat any resolution seeking to impose a binding referendum that would implicate the whole community in the murder of vulnerable people.

Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life

Why is NZ First Betraying its Supporters?

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Media Release Wednesday 15th May 2019

Right to Life is appalled that NZ First is deserting its support base by giving critical support to the ant-life and anti- feminist agenda of the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern and the Minister of Justice, Andrew Little.

Andrew Little has been directed by the Prime Minister to present a government bill to take the killing of the unborn out of the Crimes Act and to make the killing health care and “a reproductive choice for women”. The support of Winston Peters and his caucus for this proposed bill is absolutely critical for without this support the Labour Party would not be able to proceed with the proposed anti -feminist and anti-life bill, it would have the ignominious fate that this bill deserves.

The stunning betrayal by NZ First of the women of New Zealand and our precious unborn is unparalleled in the history of New Zealand. It is a declaration:

  • That the State has no duty to protect the lives of New Zealanders in their first nine months of life 
  • That the killing of an unborn child is not a crime 
  •  that it is a woman’s right to choose to terminate the life of her child for any reason up to 22 weeks, effectively up to birth if a doctor thinks that it is appropriate
  • That sex selection abortions should be legal.

At the 2017 general election NZ First received 186,706 party votes which was 7.2 % of the total party votes. In a Reid Research poll conducted in February 2019, NZ First received 2.9 % support from those polled. On current polling NZ First would be expected to have NO Members of Parliament elected at the 2020 general election.

A poll of a 1,000 respondents conducted by Curia Market Research on behalf of Family First in December 2017 revealed that 96% of NZ First voters were opposed to sex selection abortions. That 38% were opposed to abortions being performed after 15 weeks and a further 10 % were opposed to abortions being done at all. 73 % were opposed to abortions and wanted them reduced.

Right to Life now asks, how is Winston Peters going to convince the electorate that the killing of the unborn child is no longer a crime and is to be “a reproductive choice for women”? Why should the electorate trust Winston Peters to protect women and the unborn when he had stated publicly in 2014 that he was opposed to the decriminalisation of abortion and now in 2019 that he supports the decriminalisation of abortion?

It is still not too late. Right to Life earnestly requests that Winston Peters take the mantle of statesman and stand on the high moral ground by courageously reaffirming his opposition to the decriminalisation of abortion and withdrawing his support for the anti-life agenda of the Labour Party and the proposed evil bill to decriminalise abortion. This could be his finest hour when he becomes the defender of women and our precious unborn.

Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life

NZ First Callously Betrays Women and the Unborn

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Media Release 4th May 2019


Right to Life is disappointed that NZ First has given its approval, within the closed doors of cabinet, to the decriminalisation of abortion and support to Jacinda Ardern and Andrew Little’s plans to remove the protection afforded the unborn child through the Crimes Act. New Zealand First had the opporunity to protect women and the unborn in this country but have failed.

At the Family First Conference in Auckland in 2014 when interviewed by Bob McCoskrie, he stated that “abortions should be legal, safe and rare”. He was asked if he supported the Green’s policy of decriminalising abortion. He replied “no we don’t”. He then said that he believed that life began at conception and that the child had a right to life. Why has Winston Peters clearly changed his position on his defence of women and the right to life of the unborn child?

Right to Life believes that this it is an act of treason and political self-interest that NZ First is prepared to sacrifice our own women and unborn children for selfish political advantage. This will be recorded in the annals of our nation as a day of unprecedented shame and betrayal.

Winston Peters now presumably supports Model C which is preferred by the Minister of Justice, Andrew Little. Under Model C, there would be no statutory test until 22 weeks of a pregnancy. There is no recognition of the child’s right to life or of the duty of the State to protect the lives of its future citizens. “After 22 weeks, the health practitioner who intends to perform an abortion would need to be satisfied that the abortion is appropriate in the circumstances, having regard to the woman’s physical and mental health and wellbeing.” This model provides abortion for any reason at all up to 22 weeks. Right to Life believes that this model effectively provides abortion on demand up to birth.


The Royal Commission in its report to Parliament in 1977 said, on upholding the status of the unborn child. “The unborn child as one of the weakest, the most vulnerable and most defenceless forms of humanity, should receive protection. From a biological point of view there is no argument as to when life begins. Evidence was given to us by eminent scientists from all over the world. None of them suggested that human life begins at any other time than at conception”

The murder of the unborn should never be legal. Abortions are never safe, at least one patient the unborn child, dies, violently, dismembered limb from limb in its mother’s womb in every abortion. It is not rare, as Winston Peters said, in referring with concern to the more than 14,000 abortions reported in 2013.

New Zealand needs statesmen who are concerned for the next generation, not politicians who are concerned about the next election. Winston Peters could have, if he had wished, stopped The Prime Minister and Justice Ministers dead in their tracks from pursuing their evil agenda to make the killing of the unborn no longer a serious crime, but a “health service.” Why did he not follow his informed conscience and state that the killing of the unborn is a serious crime. If he had done that, he would have been loudly applauded and supported by those in the community who are committed to promoting a culture of life and opposing a culture of death. We believe that this  support would been reflected at the next general election.

It is still not too late. Right to Life now requests that NZ First steps back from the brink of disaster and withdraws its support for the war on women and their precious unborn. NZ First could courageously be the champions of women by promoting legislation that recognises the unborn child from conception as a human being endowed by its Creator with an inalienable right to life.

Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life

Do Winston Peters Adherents Know He Supports the Decriminalisation of Abortion?

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Media Release Saturday 30th June 2018

Right to Life believes Winston Peters has given his support to the proposal of the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to decriminalise abortion.

NZ First is failing to defend our unborn children. We believe that Peters had the opportunity to stop Jacinda Ardern’s pernicious agenda dead in it’s tracks, after he was consulted by Andrew Little and prior to the Minister of Justice Andrew Little’s writing to the Law Commission on direction by Ardern.

On instruction from our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the Minister of Justice Andrew Little on 27th February 2018 wrote to the President of the Law Commission, requesting the Commission investigate a review of the abortion laws in order to decriminalise abortion and remove it from the Crimes Act. The Commission were directed to make this a priority and to drop other work it was doing in order to expedite her agenda.  What the Commission has in effect been directed to do is to investigate how best our laws can be changed so that killing of unborn children will no longer be a crime but simply a ‘reproductive health choice for women.’

It is clear that Labour needed the approval of the leader of NZ First for the review by the Law Commission to take place. It is also clear that Peters gave this approval.  It is contended that if approval had been withheld for the decriminalisation of abortion by Peters, we would not be having this law review. If Peters had stood up to be counted on behalf of the unborn, he could have prevented the current course of action, certain to be pursued by Adern, which is to bring a bill to decriminalise abortion to the House.

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