133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
5 August 2022
Mark Wong
By email: [FYI request #19900 email]
Ref:
H2022007491
Tēnā koe Mark
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū Hauora
(Ministry of Health) on 13 July 2022 regarding the Abortion Legislation Act 2020. Your request is
responded to below in turn.
Section 21 of the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 states that abortion for the sole purpose of
sex selection is opposed by Parliament. A review is due after 5 years, and therefore data
on this must be monitored.
Have any abortions been carried out for the sole purpose of sex selection since the
introduction of the act?
Abortion providers report receiving a very low number of enquiries for abortion for the sole
purpose of sex selection (seven enquiries reported in 2021). However, there have been no
reports of any abortions being carried out for the sole purpose of sex selection since the
introduction of the Abortion Legislation Act 2020.
Since the introduction of the act how many abortions have been carried out at 20 weeks
or more?
Of those abortions, how many were carried out because of unacceptable risk to the life of
the mother?
As of the 1 July 2022, Manatū Hauora has received 244 reports of abortions carried out at 20
weeks or more. A qualified health practitioner may only provide abortion services to a person
who is more than 20 weeks pregnant if the health practitioner reasonably believes that the
abortion is clinically appropriate in the circumstances. In considering whether the abortion is
clinically appropriate in the circumstance, the qualified health practitioner must consult at least
one other qualified health practitioner and have regard to:
• all relevant legal, professional, and ethical standards to which the qualified health
practitioner is subject;
• and the person’s physical health, mental health; and overall wellbeing;
• and the gestational age of the fetus.
Manatū Hauora does not collect data on the reason for the abortion. Therefore, this part of your
request is refused under section 18(g)(i) of the Act as the information requested is not held by
the Ministry and there are no grounds for believing it is held by another agency subject to the
Act.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on
Manatu Hauorā website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Emma Prestidge
Group Manager
Quality Assurance and Safety
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