Poll – Support for Heartbeat Determining Rights Of Unborn
Media Release 3 May 2019
A poll has found strong support for the unborn child having human rights and being legally protected once a heartbeat is detected (which can be between 6–12 weeks), and only a small minority thinking that life doesn’t begin until the child is born.
In the independent poll by Curia Market Research of 1,000 New Zealanders, almost half of those surveyed (47%) believe that a foetus should have human rights and be legally protected once a heartbeat can be detected (only 29% disagree), with the strongest support coming from Labour and National voters. 8% were neutral, and 15% were unsure or refused to say. 31% of those who generally support abortion agreed with heartbeat rights for the unborn.
The poll also found that one in three respondents (36%) believe that life begins at conception, a further 9% in the first three months, and only 18% think it is when the child is born, as argued by some abortion advocates. Surprisingly, only 27% of those who generally support abortion believe that life begins at birth. 21% of abortion supporters admit that life begins at conception.
Overall, women are far more likely than men to say that life begins at conception.
“This is evidence of significant support for the human rights and legal protection of the unborn child being well before what is being argued for by abortion advocates and the Government. The argument of viability is merely a determination of our technology and our ability to sustain life outside the womb, but that can change with the year and hospital in which a child is born. However, the heartbeat is the universally recognised indicator of life – can you find a pulse? – is their heart still beating? Using the measure of the heartbeat stops discrimination against the unborn child and applies the same measurement to all human life,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
“To deny the heartbeat and the message it sends is to deny science. The determination of viability can be as much as 90% wrong, while detectable heartbeat is as much as 99% right. The heartbeat is the most accurate indicator of whether a child in the womb will survive to live birth.”
“Instead of abortion stopping a beating heart, a beating heart will stop abortion.”
While abortion supporters are wanting to increase the number of weeks at which an abortion can be carried out, polling at the beginning of last year found that only 4% want more liberal time limits for abortion. This is in stark contrast to the proposed models put forward by the Law Commission to the Government last year, and completely repudiates calls by groups like Family Planning, ALRANZ and the National Council of Women who are promoting Model A which allows abortion on demand up to birth.
The nationwide poll was carried out at the beginning of April and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
Support for Medical Professionals Having Freedom of Conscience – Poll
Media Release 5 May 2019
A poll has found that a strong majority (78%) believe that medical professionals with ethical objections should be lawfully allowed to opt out of performing or arranging abortions.
In the independent poll by Curia Market Research of 1,000 New Zealanders, respondents were asked “Do you think medical professionals with ethical objections should be lawfully allowed to opt out of performing or arranging abortions?”
The strongest support for freedom of conscience rights came from National and Labour party voters. Only 11% opposed freedom of conscience rights for medical professionals. Support was strong from both females and males.
Surprisingly, amongst those who generally support abortion, their support for freedom of conscience rights was stronger (84%) than amongst those who generally oppose abortion (72%).
“The Law Commission report recently presented to the Government suggested that while the current law imposes a duty on practitioners refusing to provide services to inform a woman that she can obtain the services elsewhere, they proposed a possible change to the law that would require health practitioners with conscientious objections to refer women to another health practitioner or health care provider,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
“This proposal is obviously out of step with the views of the public. There should be no change to the current law which protects a health practitioner’s right to freedom of conscience. Medical professionals should be allowed to work according to their conscience and they should not be compelled to play any part in the abortion process.”
Earlier this week, President Trump announced new protections of conscience rights for physicians, pharmacists, and nurses who object to procedures like abortion on moral or religious grounds.
The nationwide poll was carried out at the beginning of April and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
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Shock Poll: NZ’ers Want Stricter Limits on Abortion
Media Release 21 January 2018
An independent poll of New Zealanders by Curia Market Research has found significant support for greater time limits on abortion, including from those who generally support abortion. There was surprisingly small support for the current Crimes Act time limit of 20 weeks, and overwhelming rejection of any extension to the limit. There was also strong support for legal safeguards.
“These results confirm that the Labour government has no mandate at all to liberalise the abortions laws. The vast majority of the population – including people who generally support abortion – show strong support and acceptance of the current legal framework and the presence of safeguards around issues such as coercion, standards for providers, and informed consent,” says Marina Young, spokesperson for Family First NZ.
In the independent poll of 1,013 NZ’ers in December, just 9% support the current legal limit for an abortion of 20 weeks. Only 4% believe it should be later than 20 weeks (including up to birth), as proposed by pro-abortion group ALRANZ. 50% think the time limit should be shorter than the current 20 weeks, and a further 36% were unsure. Of those who did pick a time limit, 15 weeks was the median choice, according to Curia.
Significantly, 56% of women think the time limit should be less than the current 20 weeks. And incredibly, 53% of those who generally support abortion think the time limit should be less than the current 20 weeks – 29% of abortion supporters say 10 weeks or less.
Other results include:
- 65% of respondents agree that society should work together to reduce the number of abortions (only 17% disagree). Of those who generally support abortion, 63% agree with reducing the number of abortions (19% disagree). 74% of women agree (56% of men).
- 86% support the current legal requirements of providers and premises having to be licensed (only 8% disagree). Of those who generally support abortion, 92% support these legal requirements. 95% of women agree (78% of men).
- 90% oppose sex selective abortions (Only 4% support). Women were 94% opposed, and 91% of those who generally support abortion are opposed.
- 76% support doctors being required to verify a woman seeking an abortion is not under any coercion from a third party (8% opposed). Women are 83% in support (men 69%). Of those who generally support abortion, 84% support this legal requirement.
- 52% say they generally support abortion and 29% oppose, 19% unsure. However, opposition to abortion exceeds support of abortion in areas of high deprivation (39% to 35%). NZ First voters are least supportive, Green voters most supportive.
- 49% support being able to have an abortion just because a woman doesn’t want to be a mother (38% opposed, 13% unsure). Respondents in high areas of deprivation are evenly split on the issue. Green voters most supportive (73%), NZ First voters least supportive (38%).
- Women are more pro-life then men on most of the issues canvassed.
Earlier surveys – also carried out by Curia Market Research – have found:
- A 2016 survey asked respondents whether they agreed with the following statement: “Women who have abortions risk harming their mental health as a result of the abortion.” Overall, 46% agreed with the statement, 21% were unsure or didn’t say, and only 33% disagreed. Significantly, strongest agreement with the statement came from the younger 18-40 age bracket (50%).
- A 2011 poll found that the majority of New Zealanders (64%) believe that women considering an abortion have the right to be fully informed of the medical risks of abortion – and the alternatives.
- A 2010 poll found that 79% of respondents think parents should be notified if their daughter aged under 16 is seeking an abortion. And a 2011 poll of 600 teenagers (15-21) nationwide found that 59% of young respondents thought the parents should be told if their school-age daughter is considering getting an abortion, so long as it won’t put her in physical danger. 56% of youth respondents also said they believe an unborn child or foetus has a right to be born. Slightly more young women than young men agreed – 58% to 55%.
“Contrary to misrepresentation by pro-abortion groups, New Zealand women are either satisfied with the current regulation of abortion or want it made more restrictive. Women are not made criminals by the current legislative guidelines and protections. To claim otherwise is simply false scaremongering aimed at deceiving people into supporting the introduction of an extreme abortion law in New Zealand. The existing safeguards are there to protect women from unlicensed premises and coercion, and they are ones most New Zealanders support.”
“Our concern is that taking away the current safeguards will simply result in women being rushed or pressured into abortions that they don’t actually want, and which the current system helps to protect against. Coercion to have an abortion is a big issue for some women,” says Mrs Young.
The latest nationwide poll was carried out during December and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
ENDS
(Marina Young had an abortion in 1986 and now speaks about and promotes abortion healing through the Buttons Project (established in 2008) – which offers counselling, networking, and support programmes.)
