Media Release
11 February 2010

ProLife NZ wishes to express its support for a protest march against the Family Planning Association’s Application for an Abortion Licence.

The march which will take place in Wellington tomorrow is being organised by an organisation called Stop Family Planning with a purpose of urging the Abortion Supervisory Committee to deny the FPA a licence to commit RU486 abortions in its Hamilton clinic.

ProLife NZ shares the concern of Stop Family Planning that too many abortions are taking place in New Zealand and that the granting of an abortion Licence to the FPA will only worsen the situation.

ProLife NZ spokesperson Lydia Moore will be one of the speakers to address the rally at Parliament.

The March begins at 12:30pm at Civic Square Friday 12 March with a rally outside Parliament.

ENDS

For More Information
Contact Lydia Moore
Ph: 027 8255625

Media Release
19 October 2009

New Zealand Youth will tomorrow wear red duct-tape over their mouths as they give up their voices in solidarity with the children who have died from abortion.

Students on university campuses and in schools will gather together and stand in silent solidarity for the unborn. Red arm bands and duct tape will identify them as participating in the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity.

At the University of Canterbury and the University of Auckland, participants are demonstrating with a silent protest on campus. Each will carry fliers explaining why they are silent and educating about the plight of the innocent children lost every day.

“Every year in New Zealand, 18,000 babies are silenced by abortion before they have a chance to speak – that’s one every 30 minutes,” says Andy Moore, National Director of Prolife NZ. “We’re giving up our voices for over 400,000 New Zealand babies who’ve been silenced forever.”

Prolife NZ is primarily a campus-orientated group, and is working with pro-life groups Right to Life, Voice for Life and Family Life International to promote the event.

The Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity was started in the United States in 2004 by pro-life group Stand True. Students from over 3,200 schools and campuses around the World will be participating in 2009. This year is the second time the event has taken place in New Zealand.

The event’s website is prolife.org.nz/silentday

ENDS

For More Information, contact Prolife NZ:
Andy Moore – National Director
Mob. 021 1140 751 Email: andy@prolife.org.nz

Media Release
28 August 2009

Youth-based pro-life group, Prolife NZ is today delighted to announce their support of the Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day.

The Cancer Society of New Zealand does a wonderful and important job raising awareness of the danger of cancer,” says Prolife NZ National Director Andy Moore. “They are an essential and valuable part of our society as they tirelessly promote preventative measures to save more Kiwis from cancer.”

Cancer affects 1 in 3 New Zealanders. Prolife NZ wishes to draw attention to the little-known but scientifically proven link between abortion and breast cancer. An Australian study indicated that an induced abortion increases a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer by 150%¹

“Abortion is cruel because it takes the life away from a helpless unborn human-being,” he says. “But our group is also dedicated to the support of everybody involved in a crisis pregnancy situation – especially the mother.”

The link is very simple. Abortion interrupts the natural process of breast development, leaving the breast with more cells that can become cancerous. Elevated levels of estrogen, starting early in the pregnancy, cause normal and pre-cancerous cells to multiply and stimulate the breasts to swell. Third trimester hormones of a full-term pregnancy change cells into cancer-resistant, milk-producing tissue and turn off their growth (and cancer-forming) potential.²

“We strongly encourage mothers who are considering an abortion to consider not only the life of their pre-born child, but also the danger that this increased chance of breast cancer poses to them.”

Prolife NZ has made a donation of $100 to the valuable work of the Cancer Society, and calls on all Kiwis to make a donation to its excellent and important work.

References
1. Andrieu et al. (1995) BR J Cancer 72:744-51
2. Voice for Life NZ 2006, “Abortion Raises Breast Cancer risk”

ENDS

For more information, contact Prolife NZ:
Andy Moore – National Director
Mob. 021 1140 751 Email: andy@prolife.org.nz

Media Release
21 July 2009

ProLife NZ welcomes the Government’s decision to suspend the folic acid scheme as it is the wrong way to approach the problem of folate deficiency.

An adequate intake of folate is required to lower the risk of babies being born with neural tube defects which include spina bifida. In 2003 there were estimated to be 180 babies with neural tube defects aborted in New Zealand.

John Forman, executive director of the Organisation for Rare Disorders was mentioned in the NZ Herald (20 July) saying that by mass medicating the country we would be able to reduce the number of abortions taking place in NZ. He went on to ask, “Who is going to take responsibility for a couple of classrooms of kids that are not going to be there – every year?”.

“We are glad to see the Organisation for Rare Disorders seeking to reduce our high abortion rate, however legislating on the addition of folate to bread is the wrong way to approach the problem,” said Prolife NZ National Director Andy Moore.

“However mass medicating the country is not the key to reducing our high abortion rate,” he said. “There are other more practical and effective steps which can be taken. Properly informing women who are seeking advice on abortion and ensuring that they are offered their free ultrasound scan will go a long way in helping address our country’s abysmal abortion rate.”

Prolife NZ encourages pregnant mothers in New Zealand to ensure that their intake of folate is sufficient to provide the child growing inside them with the nutrients essential to its development.

ENDS

For More Information, contact Prolife NZ:
Andy Moore – National Director
Mob. 021 1140 751 Email: andy@prolife.org.nz

Media Release
21 July 2009

Prolife NZ is today setting the record straight on the Right to Life vs. the Crown court case, following a misleading press release from Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRANZ).

In their 19 July press release Dr. Margaret Sparrow cites the cost incurred by the Crown in the high-profile case. The Abortion Supervisory Council (ASC) reports that the cost of the case to date is $280,000.

“While ALRANZ is accusing Right to Life of causing this huge bill to the tax-payer, the reverse is true,” said Prolife NZ National Director Andy Moore. “Justice Miller has made it clear that a large number of abortions performed in New Zealand may be unlawful – therefore it is the Crown that must be held accountable.”

“That the case has been so drawn-out is evidence that Right to Life is onto something. If the ASC had been doing its job there would have been no need for this lengthy and costly court case. However Justice Miller found in June 2008 that, ‘The [ASC] has misinterpreted its functions and powers’. If anyone is to blame for this quarter of a million dollars expense to the country during the recession, it is the ASC,” he said.

“Dr. Sparrow claims that pro-life group Right to Life wants women to have no choice, however this is blatantly untrue,” he said. “In actual fact, Right to Life wishes to ensure that women are able to make an informed decision regarding the precious life growing within them.”

“ALRANZ is a small group with approximately 200 members,” he said. “How can they possibly claim to represent the opinion of the majority of New Zealanders when they espouse such extremist views?”

In contrast, Prolife NZ is a newly established and vibrant youth-based group with a fast-growing membership from all over Aotearoa, New Zealand. Young people wishing to join Prolife NZ are encouraged to visit the group’s website, www.prolife.org.nz.

ENDS

For More Information, contact Prolife NZ:
Andy Moore – National Director
Mob. 021 1140 751 Email: andy@prolife.org.nz

Media Release
19 July 2009

Prolife NZ is looking forward to Justice Miller issuing declaratory orders tomorrow that will clearly define the responsibilities of the Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC).

The case which will be held in the High Court in Wellington is scheduled for Monday 20 July. Justice Miller will at this time make declaratory orders following his ruling in the July 2008 case, Right to Life vs. the Crown.

At present, the ASC permits over 98% of abortions to be approved by certifying consultants using the mental-health clause in the abortion law.

Justice Miller stated in July 2008 that “There is reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by certifying consultants,” and that “The [ASC] has misinterpreted its functions and powers”. However he did not issue explicit declaratory orders. Declaratory orders will give clearer direction to the ASC in how they apply the abortion law in New Zealand. Clearly defined declaratory orders will also mean that Parliament is able to ensure that the ASC is fulfilling its duties.

The ASC has determined to ignore Justice Miller’s July 2008 statement, contacting all certifying consultants and recommending that they continue approving abortions as before – despite the Justice’s concern. The ASC has also voiced opposition to the Justice issuing declaratory orders, claiming that they are unnecessary and may lead to confusion.

“These are clearly the tactics of a committee that are scared. Prolife NZ is surprised that the committee should resort to such a desperate and underhanded measure,” said Prolife NZ National Director Andy Moore.

“We welcome this court case, as a positive outcome will result in the law being applied as it was originally intended. This will in turn result in fewer women being hurt by abortion and fewer babies being killed”.

ENDS

For More Information, contact Prolife NZ:
Andy Moore – National Director
Mob. 021 1140 751 Email: andy@prolife.org.nz

Media Release
23 June 2009

Prolife NZ welcomes the New Zealand Abortion Statistics for 2008 which were released on 16 June by Statistics New Zealand.

The report showed that the number of abortions had dropped from 18,380 in 2007, to 17,940 in 2008. This means 440 fewer unborn babies have been killed and 440 fewer women have been affected by abortion.

“The hard work of pro-life groups throughout New Zealand is paying off” says Andy Moore, National Director of Prolife NZ. “Just look at the recent Gallup poll in the United States indicating 51% of Americans identify themselves as being pro-life. The debate is changing. People have greater access to the facts about abortion and there is a greater awareness of what it really is,” he said.

Justice Miller’s ruling that “there is reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions” has also helped raise public awareness on the issue of abortion, alerting New Zealanders to the chilling fact that we essentially have abortion on demand.

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel, however this is no time to become complacent,” says Mr. Moore. “More than ever, it is imperative that young people throughout New Zealand speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves, those who are still growing inside their mothers’ wombs.”

“We are aiming to see an even lower figure in the 2009 abortion statistics,” he said.

ENDS

For More Information, contact Prolife NZ:
Andy Moore – National Director
Mob. 021 1140 751 Email: andy@prolife.org.nz

Media Release
13 June 2009

Prolife NZ is disappointed to hear that the American designed product IntelliGender test kit will be coming to New Zealand as soon as the 22 June. This product will allow women to take a test at only 8 weeks gestation, which will tell then indicate the sex of their unborn child. ProLife NZ is concerned that this will lead to an increase in the number of early abortions in NZ.

There is concern that women will make abortion decisions based on the sex of the child. If women wait and view the ultrasound, research from the US indicates that a high percentage of abortion-minded women will go ahead with the pregnancy. Prolife NZ is encouraging women to instead wait a few weeks for their free ultrasound if they wish to learn the sex of their unborn child.

“The reliability of this test is in question, with only a 90% accuracy rate,” says Prolife NZ National Director Andy Moore. “It is the first step towards abortions on the grounds of sex selection in our country.”

“The current law only allows abortions on the mental health grounds,” he says. “How then can the health authorities allow abortions when the women involved may only want to terminate because they are pregnant with a child of a particular gender they don’t want?”

Prolife NZ calls for the Minister of Health Tony Ryall to ensure that this product is not allowed to
be sold in New Zealand.

ENDS

For More Information, contact Prolife NZ
Andy Moore – National Director
Mob. 021 1140 751 Email: andy@prolife.org.nz