Abortion Legislation Act 2020

The Abortion Legislation Act 2020 is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand allowing unrestricted access to abortion within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, and repealing sections of the Crimes Act 1961 related to unlawful abortion. After the 20-week period, women seeking an abortion must consult a qualified health practitioner who will assess their physical health, mental health, and well-being. The Act also provides provisions for conscientious objection rights for medical practitioners, and exempts abortion services from certain Crimes Act provisions, while extending the definition of health services to include abortion services under the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994.

Elective abortion care had been available for several decades in New Zealand before this Act was passed, but women had to maintain a fiction that they were suffering from mental illness in order to get an abortion.

Throughout its passage through Parliament, the Act was treated as a conscience issue. It had varying levels of support at its various stages, and passed into law with a majority of 68–51 votes in its favour at the third reading, with members of the Labour Party, National Party, and New Zealand First voting against. Only the Green Party, Act Party, and independent MP Jami-Lee Ross voted in favour of the legislation at all three stages.