The number of reported induced abortions in the country was 14,073 in 2013.  This is down from 14,745 in 2012.  The general abortion rate of 15.4 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 – 44 years is the lowest since 1994, when it was 15.3 per 1,000.

Abortion numbers peaked in 2003, when 18,511 were reported.  The numbers have been declining for six consecutive years.

All pro-life groups in New Zealand are welcoming the news, while lamenting the fact that just over 14,000 unborn children lost their lives.

Voice for Life National President Bernard Moran said in a newsletter that he feels "a sense of great sadness and loss for the more than 14,000 human beings who were denied social justice and their fundamental human right to life last year in NZ."

The reasons behind the declining abortions are unclear although there are many theories.

Family First NZ said in a statement that they believe the abortion rate will continue to drop as more people learn about prenatal development. 

"The 'bunch of cells' argument which has driven the right-to-abortion argument is now just 'flat earth science'.  As the average person has learnt more about the biology of prenatal development, they have become more 'pro-life,'" said Marina Young, spokesperson for Family First NZ and founder of the Buttons Project.

Another contributor to the falling number of abortions, according to Dame Colleen Bayer, national director of Family Life International NZ, is the work of crisis pregnancy centres.  "Women need to know that there is support for them to bring their baby to birth.  They see that we can support them no matter what their circumstances are and this gives them hope."

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