AUCKLAND There were 18,380 abortions in New Zealand in 2007, the second-highest total ever. The figures were released on June 17, a week after the issue hit the headlines following a High Court judges suggestion that New Zealand has abortion on request.

Ken Orr of Right to Life, which initiated the High Court proceedings, called the latest abortion statistics deeply disappointing, adding that the number of victims is double the 18,380 total.
Each abortion is a tragedy for the unborn child that is destroyed and for the mother who is the second victim of abortion, Mr Orr said.

Family Life International spokesman Brendan Malone challenged those overseeing and performing abortions.

While New Zealand women and their unborn babies continue to pay an unnecessary and horrific price, those who endorse and carry out abortions continue to ignore the harm that their ideology is doing to Kiwi women and their unborn babies, and those who support abortion continue to do so blindly, without properly considering the philosophical and moral validity of their pro-abortion position, he said.

In 2007, more than 2000 abortions were performed on women for whom it was at least their third termination.

The Family Party, which will contest this years general election for the first time, said that statistic makes a particular statement.

Abortion is clearly being seen and interpreted as a birth control measure, which has devastating consequences for women and obviously, the unborn child, said Paul Adams, the partys deputy leader.

Half the women having abortions in 2007 had no previous live births; 30 per cent already had two or more children.

While 18,380 abortions were performed last year, there were just 90 local adoptions, according to the Adoption Option Trust.