New Zealand’s official abortion death toll announced [2023]

The Ministry of Health has released the official annual report for abortion in New Zealand, painting an even more grim picture than provisional figures obtained earlier this year.

It is reported that 16,277 chemical and surgical abortions were performed in 2023.

Putting it into perspective, that is 44 pre-born children killed every day of the year, or 313 per week, and roughly two abortions every hour, every day.

The reported number is a 14.9% increase in reported abortions from 2022 [14,164]. Since 2020, the year when the Abortion Legislation Act was hastily (and jubilantly) passed, the increase is almost 23%.

In the Foreword to the annual report, Director-General of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati, takes pains to mention that “we never forget that behind the numbers and graphs are individuals, families and whanau making difficult decisions.”

FLI’s National Director, Michelle Kaufman, said, “It appears Dr Sarfati has taken some notice of what people within the pro-life movement have always acknowledged – abortion harms women, families, and society.”

She went on to say, “However, the pro-life movement also acknowledges the humanity of the pre-born child who is poisoned, or brutally torn apart in the act of induced abortion. Dr Safarati has conveniently ignored their presence and the grave injustice perpetrated upon them, the ultimate victims.”

Abortion statistics at a glance

⦿ 15.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years.
⦿ 221 abortions per 1,000 known pregnancies [192 in 2013].
⦿ 86% [10,080] of reported abortions were performed at 10 weeks gestation or less – 66% of surgical abortions and 97% of medical¹ [chemical] abortions.
⦿ Early Medical Abortions [chemical abortions] again increased, comprising 62% of all reported abortions.
⦿ 60.6% of EMA were accessed via telehealth, meaning many women and girls are not seen in person – Decide abortion hotline [38.6%] and Regional telehealth services [22%].
⦿ Maori women have the highest rate of abortion [21.5 per 1,000 women], followed by those from the Pacific [16.5 per 1,000 women].
⦿ 1,848 teen abortions [aged 19 and younger]² of which, 37 girls were aged 14 and under.
⦿ 141 abortions 20 weeks plus.
⦿ 9,893 had previously given birth to a live baby at least once; of those 141 women had six or more live births.
⦿ 6,151 had previously had at least one previous abortion; of those 427 had 4 or more previous abortions.
⦿ 15% [2,509] accessed pre-abortion counselling; of those, the majority [2,014] received counselling at the same place where they obtained the abortion.
⦿ 387 abortion workers: 137 medical practitioners, 214 nurses, and 36 midwives.

Clamping down on opposition to abortion

Dr Sarfati opines in the Foreword of the report that “People need accurate information to be able to make informed choices in relation to their pregnancy options.” She immediately qualifies this statement by asserting that the Ministry plays an active role in monitoring disinformation.”

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines disinformation as “false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumours) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth.”

To illustrate types of disinformation, Sarfati names the use of progesterone to reverse the effects of the abortion pill, stating it is “an unsafe and scientifically unsupported practice.”

Michelle Kaufman hit back at the claim abortion pill reversal is disinformation, saying, “Globally, more than 5,000 babies have been born safely after their mothers took the first abortion pill and changed their mind.”

“It is those who promote abortion who are spreading disinformation – deliberately deceiving women into thinking they have no choice once they take the first abortion pill, mifepristone.”

“All women deserve to be fully informed of all their options, which includes attempting to safely reverse the deadly effects of mifepristone if she so chooses.”

“Abortion activists and the Ministry of Health are only concerned about one thing: making the killing of an innocent human being in their mother’s womb a normal health care decision. They do not care about presenting women with life-affirming options, hence the need to obscure the truth.”

Do not lose heart

The latest report paints a grim picture of a society that is once again becoming comfortable with the deliberate killing of pre-born children in the womb.

“We must not lose heart,” says Mrs Kaufman. “It appears that Satan has won. He has not. We must remain faithful, assisting pregnant mothers in their greatest hour of need and educating people, especially our youth, about the sacredness of human life, and the urgent need to protect the most innocent amongst us, our pre-born brothers and sisters.”

She declared, “Protecting pre-born children is the duty of everyone, not just a few. Without the right to life, there can be no other rights.”

Further Reading:

Abortion Services Aotearoa New Zealand Annual Report 2024
Ministry of Health refuse pregnant mothers the chance to reverse chemical abortion

Notes:

¹ The term “medical abortion” is a misnomer, as the word “medical” infers that the intervention is achieving some good or benefit for the person. All induced abortion targets a living human person in order to destroy them. This is not medicine.
² Six cases were not reported in the table from which this information was obtained. The ages of those six women have not been disclosed.