Abortion law would only require a medical test for women who are more than 20 weeks pregnant, in proposed changes announced by the government this morning.

Photo: RNZ / Ana Tovey

The government has released the details of a Bill which would remove abortion from the Crimes Act and instead treat it as a health issue.

It comes after months of stalling and back-and-forth negotiations between coalition partners.

Currently, the law allows for abortion to be performed only to save the life of the mother, or to preserve her physical or mental health, and only if the procedure is approved by two doctors or consultants.

Last year the Law Commission recommended three options for abortion law reform.

One option was that the decision would be for a woman and her doctor, another that a mental health assessment be carried out for all abortions, and a third would require a woman's mental health to be examined only after 22 weeks of pregnancy.

However, the government has opted for a different option, requiring an examination if a woman is more than 20 weeks pregnant.

After 20 weeks, a health practitioner would need to determine that they reasonably believe the abortion is appropriate with regard to the pregnant woman's physical and mental health, and wellbeing.

Justice Minister Andrew Little said the bill would modernise New Zealand's abortion laws, bringing them into line with many other developed countries.

"Abortion is the only medical procedure that is still a crime in New Zealand. It's time for this to change.

"Safe abortion should be treated and regulated as a health issue; a woman has the right to choose what happens to her body.

"The safe systems and regulation that we need to do this are already in place through other health legislation and codes of professional practice within the medical profession. Oversight of abortion services would be transferred from the Abortion Supervisory Committee to the Ministry of Health", Mr Little said.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Little said the final details of the bill were decided after "discussions with government parties".

"New Zealand First... has been very constructive, very positive. In fact, we've got the bill to the point that it is with the support that they've given."

The vote will be treated as a conscience issue which means MPs do not have to vote along party lines.

"I don't know precisely where the numbers sit on this, but I think the bill in the current form that it's in gives us the best chance of getting the best numbers on Thursday," Mr Little said.

The Bill, which will have its first reading on Thursday will: