When the Abortion Legislation Act was passed in March 2020 one of its provisions reflected a fad that has swept the English-speaking world: facilities that provide abortions can now have a ‘safe area’ around them in which no one is allowed to protest. Enforcement of such laws has been grim in some countries, particularly in England, where people have been arrested for silently praying or for holding a sign offering support.
A number of New Zealand hospitals where abortions are performed have had a doughty band of regular protesters for many years. According to their critics, these people put women ‘at risk’ by threatening their ability to access health care, or by alarming, threatening, intimidating or humiliating them. The other side of the story is the many women – and there have been many – have changed their minds as a result of being offered help or an alternative point of view. Not to mention their children who are alive and well.
The Good Oil spoke to representatives of the Thames and Rotorua sign holders to find out how they are getting on since the law changed. New Zealand’s law is unique in that abortion facilities do not automatically have a ‘safe area’ and have to apply for it.
The day after Thames Hospital’s ‘safe area’ came into force was the usual day for both abortions and protests and the group arrived as usual. The head nurse came out and pointedly gave them a map of the safe area, and then somebody called the police. Three police officers attended and ordered the protesters to leave. One of the group asked the police if it would make any difference if they changed their signage or stood just outside the safe area. Incredibly, the policewoman in charge not only threatened them with arrest but told them that if they came again and stood outside the safe area, they would be arrested on some other charge!
The group has shifted to a position on the outskirts of the township, where they feel they are more visible and get their message to more people. Abortion numbers have continued to decline at the hospital: when the protests began, around 2011, abortions were performed every Friday, but the days reduced to once a fortnight and now to once a month because of the number of women not turning up for their appointments. The pro-lifers know for a fact that some of this is due to their direct action, as people have come back and told them so.
In Hastings, the pro-life group started going to the hospital four years ago. Initially they went inside with their signs but were moved on by security. When the hospital’s safe area came into force in 2022, they retreated to a position exactly the required 150 metres from the hospital boundary and carried on. They, too, have found that they are more visible where they now stand and have more interactions with the public. They have had one visit from the police that ended amicably. Most importantly, 75 scheduled abortions in 2022 didn’t go ahead and overall numbers in Rotorua declined 15 per cent in 2022 and 16 per cent in 2023.
These are small victories in a bleak scene, but every life that is saved makes it worthwhile. And it seems that the ‘safe areas’ are not changing that.
