Private Lives, Public Policies

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Antiabortionists in New Zealand succeeded in passing legislation in 1977 that required cumbersome review procedures by medical consultants to determine the extent of physical or mental danger to the mother. Briefly, the abortion rate dropped, as 3,000 women a year flew to Australia for legal abortions. Recently, New Zealand women have learned to present the required symptoms (mainly psychiatric) for abortion, and the rate has returned to about 4,000 a year. Marilyn Waring, 28, the only woman M.P. of the ruling National Party, insists: "A woman will find a way, sometimes at the expense of her own life, and there is nothing politicians, or laws, can do to stop her and those of us who will assist her."

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