HealthInfo Canterbury
Abortion (termination of pregnancy)
Te whakatahe (te aukati hapūtanga)
If you're pregnant and are thinking about an abortion, it's important that you consider all your options. It's very important that anyone who is pregnant, whatever their age, has the support to make the decision that's right for them.
If you're considering an abortion, talk with a health professional such as your GP about your options as soon as possible.
As well as your GP, if you aren't sure what to do or want more information about abortion and support, you can contact:
- a Family Planning Clinic
- the Gynaecology Procedure Unit at Christchurch Hospital – this service can give pre- and post-decision counselling that's free and confidential. Call (03) 378‑6386. The Gynaecology Procedure Unit is open Monday to Thursday from 8 am to 4 pm.
- the DECIDE website – it has information about abortion and options if you're pregnant . You can also call free on 0800-DECIDE (0800‑332‑433) from 8 am to 6 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.
A female of any age can consent to have an abortion.
If you're under 16, remember that your health professional won't share any information with your parents or guardians without your consent. You may find talking with your parents or guardians helpful so they can support you. If you don't feel that you can do this, health professionals are good people to talk to confidentially about difficult things. A health professional is anyone who looks after your health – it includes doctors and nurses.
While you no longer need a GP referral to have an abortion, if you have a GP, you may like to see them to discuss your options. They can confirm how many weeks pregnant you are and can make a referral for you if you decide to proceed. They can also arrange any tests that you need such as blood tests and an ultrasound scan. Alternatively, you can make an appointment with the Family Planning Clinic.
If you decide to go ahead with an abortion, you can also self-refer by calling the Gynaecology Procedure Unit on (03) 378‑6386 and the staff will make the arrangements for you.
Most New Zealand citizens or residents don't need to pay for an abortion as the service is publicly funded. If you aren't a New Zealand citizen or resident, you'll need to check if you're eligible for publicly funded healthcare. You can also call the Christchurch Hospital patient eligibility team on (03) 364‑0092 or (03) 364‑0957 for more information.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Canterbury DHB:
- Patient information: abortion
This leaflet provides detailed information about having an abortion at the Gynaecology Procedure Unit at Christchurch Hospital.
- Charges for termination of pregnancy (abortion) at Christchurch Hospital
This leaflet explains who has to pay for an abortion at Christchurch Hospital and what the cost is. Most New Zealand citizens and residents don't have to pay.
- Patient information: abortion
- DECIDE National Abortion Telehealth Service
Information about abortion services in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Family Planning – Abortion
This page links to different abortion-related topics, including comparing methods, the law, and where to get more information.
- Community Law – Pregnancy Rights
A booklet explaining your legal options before, during and after pregnancy. It covers sexual health, health care, education for people under 18, housing, work, caring for a child, legal aid and where to go for more support.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed February 2021. Last updated July 2022.
Sources
Review key: HITER-17288
