Mum pushes for abortion law change

‘She had to go through it alone’ – mum wants abortion law change
NZ Herald 27 August 2015
A woman has told politicians the harrowing background to her daughter’s suicide attempt, in a bid to have abortion law changed.

Hillary Kieft, of Stratford, appeared before the Justice and Electoral select committee and, with pauses to regain her composure, outlined what had happened to her family.

Mrs Kieft’s daughter had an abortion at 15 years old before she attempted suicide a year later, in 2010.

Only then did the Kiefts learn that their daughter’s boarding school arranged for a procedure through a Family Planning clinic in Hawera, and failed to offer any post-abortion support.

Mrs Kieft’s petition, which was signed and presented to Parliament by Whanganui MP Chester Borrows, wants legislation changed to ensure parents were notified before daughters are referred for an abortion, and to ensure there is “a fully informed consent” from those undergoing the procedure.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11503837

Tell parents about children’s abortions – mother
Radio NZ News 27 August 2015
Hillary Kieft has presented a petition to Parliament, asking for an amendment to the Care of Children Act, which is now before the Justice and Electoral select committee.

Mrs Kieft told MPs today that in 2009 her daughter, who was 15 at the time, had an abortion without the family’s knowledge and any support.

She said the teenager was left infertile, had struggled with depression, and attempted suicide.

“As a family, we are standing together to see a change for parental rights. We do not want other families to go through the pain and suffering we have had to endure.

“The current law intends to protect girls. So, as a mother, I want to know – show me how.”

There was a double standard, she said.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/top/282572/tell-parents-about-children’s-abortions-mother

Parliament considering petition on abortion law changes
Stuff co.nz 27 August 2015
A Taranaki mother who has endured years of sleepless nights fearing her teenage daughter was taking her own life is calling for abortion law changes.

Hillary Kieft, of Stratford, struggled at times to keep her composure in the Justice and Electoral select committee on Thursday where she was speaking to her petition.

She’s asking to give parents assurance they would be notified before daughters under the age of 16 were referred for an abortion.

Kieft’s daughter, then 15, was taken for an abortion in Hawera in 2010 that was arranged by her school and was dropped home to her parents where they were told she had been to a counselling appointment.

A year later their daughter attempted suicide and it was only then that she confided she had been taken to a Family Planning clinic for an abortion and had not received any follow-up counselling or medical treatment.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/71503168/parliament-considering-petition-on-abortion-law-changes?fb_source=timeline&ref=profile#_=_