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