Written by Tia Deb
The US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022 made headlines worldwide. In Aotearoa, this emboldened anti-abortion activists to protest the then-new Abortion Legislation Act 2020 (1News, 2022). While unsuccessful in their endeavour to repeal the act, the legislation is still not as protected as many might assume. This article analyses concerns around the current Health Minister, Simeon Brown, and how his stance on abortion may undermine access.
Background on Health Minister Simeon Brown
The Abortion Legislation Act removed abortion from the Crimes Act and allowed for termination before 20 weeks, without a doctor’s referral (Ministry of Health, 2023). Current Health Minister, Simeon Brown, voted against the Act in all three readings (Witton, 2025), proposed controversial amendments to track women’s fertility and abortions (De Anda, 2025), and voted to dismantle safe areas around abortion clinics in the name of what David Seymour labelled “free speech” (Witton, 2025; Coughlan, 2020). He also led protests with the group ‘Stop Family Planning’ with the hopes of dismantling abortion access, and, as a university student, established and became President of the ProLife Auckland group on campus (Emily Writes, 2025). Clearly, his views are deeply enmeshed in his political action, policy, and voting decisions.
Even Dame Margaret Sparrow, prolific pro-choice activist and former Abortion Law Reform (ALRANZ) president commented that “he was very arrogant” and was “quoting unscientific statistics about medical abortion” when she met him during his advocacy at university (Emily Writes, 2025). Now, as Health Minister, he has promised that no changes to abortion law will be made (Smith, 2025). Even so, many have noted that there are other ways to undermine the Abortion Legislation Act and make it more difficult for people to access abortion without outright repealing the law (Beddoe, 2025; Beddoe & Joy, 2022).
What the government can do to undermine abortion
Firstly, Simeon Brown and the National-led coalition government have the power to cut funds or limit resources to support abortion services (Beddoe, 2025; Beddoe & Joy, 2022; Emily Writes, 2025). This applies especially to Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa (formerly Family Planning), as they rely heavily on government funding (Te Whatu Ora, n.d.). Brown has also already advocated against the group in his youth.
Aotearoa’s major pro-choice organisation – ALRANZ – has commented on how they do not believe Brown will be able to put his personal views aside in his role as Health Minister (Witton, 2025). While it is not likely he or the government would get away with banning abortion outright, they could certainly “chip away” at access discreetly while never having to touch the law (De Anda, 2025). This makes it especially difficult to hold them to account as it provides a space for plausible deniability, all while people in NZ suffer from lack of access.
In January, the Government considered shifting abortion care to Health NZ’s child and youth team, despite most people accessing abortion being adults (Thomas, 2025). In April, Simeon Brown dodged questions posed by Labour’s Dr Ayesha Verrall at a parliamentary debate. She also commented on abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital being “shelved” due to staff shortages (Labour, 2025). This left those seeking abortions with little choice but to travel long distances without support and, in many cases, without financial assistance, which is typically provided for pregnancy care. Brown claimed he was “not aware” of this issue, which raises concerns about the Health Minister’s scrutiny and due diligence regarding upholding abortion access (Brown, 2025).
Clearly, a quiet dismantling of abortion services in New Zealand is not implausible. In fact, despite standing laws, a New South Wales hospital ceased providing surgical abortions due to conscientious objection, leading to patients not being able to access the care they needed (Barbour, 2024a). This is a pattern across New South Wales and Australia broadly, with many reporting on an “unspoken ban” creating barriers, especially for those living in rural areas (Barbour, 2024b). A similar pattern of practice seems to be emerging in New Zealand (Steele, 2025; Labour, 2025), and it is unclear whether Health Minister Simeon Brown will stand to prevent it.
Conclusion
Despite Brown and Luxon repeatedly stating that abortion laws will not change under their government, it is difficult to believe that their personal views would not interfere. As mentioned, abortion access can be discreetly undermined in many ways, and Simeon Brown has the means and the motive to do so. New Zealand’s abortion law may have changed in 2020, but we are not out of the woods yet.
Editors’ note: Tia’s article expands on an assignment submitted for a previous course. See it below for further information.
References
1News. (2022, July 16). Pro-choice and pro-life protesters clash at Auckland rally. 1News. https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/07/16/pro-choice-and-pro-life-protesters-clash-at-auckland-rally/
Barbour, L. (2024a, October 29). Abortion is legal in Australia, but doctors say an “unspoken ban” is robbing women in regional and rural areas of the right to choose. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-30/abortion-access-regional-australia-denying-women-health-care/104387416
Barbour, L. (2024b, November 12). Email proves Queanbeyan Hospital has banned surgical abortions, as pressure mounts on NSW health minister to intervene. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-13/email-proves-queanbeyan-hospital-has-banned-surgical-abortions/104584910
Beddoe, L. (2025). Being a feminist in 2025 – The University of Auckland. University of Auckland. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2025/03/08/being-a-feminist-in-2025.html
Beddoe, L., & Joy, E. (2022). Aotearoa must be vigilant after Roe v Wade – The University of Auckland. University of Auckland. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2022/07/03/aotearoa-must-be-vigilant-after-roe-v-wade.html
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Coughlan, T. (2025). Last minute mistake changes abortion law as Parliament accidentally passes amendment. Stuff. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/120167119/last-minute-mistake-changes-abortion-law-as-parliament-accidentally-passes-amendment
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Emily Writes. (2025, January 27). Will Simeon Brown try to shut down Family Planning? Substack.com; Emily Writes Weekly. https://emilywrites.substack.com/p/will-simeon-brown-try-to-shut-down
Labour. (2025). Release: Abortion care quietly shelved amid staff shortage. NZ Labour Party. https://www.labour.org.nz/news-abortion_care_quietly_shelved_amid_staff_shortage
Ministry of Health. (2024, August 23). Abortion legislation. https://www.health.govt.nz/regulation-legislation/abortion/abortion-legislation
Smith, A. (2025, January 21). No change to abortion laws, new Health Minister Simeon Brown promises. RNZ. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/539608/no-change-to-abortion-laws-new-health-minister-simeon-brown-promises
Steele, M. (2025, April 28). Rural women face barriers to abortion, contraceptive care, MoH review says. RNZ. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/559295/rural-women-face-barriers-to-abortion-contraceptive-care-moh-review-says
Te Whatu Ora. (2018). Sexual and reproductive health – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. Govt.nz. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/health-services-and-programmes/sexual-and-reproductive-health/about
Thomas, R. (2025). “Unworkable”: Inside a health NZ meeting to gut specialised teams. The Post. https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360542614/unworkable-inside-health-nz-meeting-gut-specialised-teams
Witton, B. (2025). Abortion law reform association raises concerns over “pro-life” Health Minister Simeon Brown. Stuff. https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360555874/provocation-abortion-law-reform-association-raises-concerns-over-pro-life-health-minister-simeon
