Media Release 13 August 2023
Right to Life believes that the government is suppressing our right to free speech and assembly, under the pretext of providing a safe area for the killing of unborn children.
Right to Life asks the Minister of Health, Dr Ayesha Verrall, what evidence does she have that law abiding citizens enjoying the beauty and tranquility of our beautiful Christchurch Botanic Gardens, are harassing and intimidating women seeking to terminate the life of their unborn child at the Gynecological Procedure Unit on the 4th floor of the Public Hospital or at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, both on the other side of the picturesque Avon River?
Right to Life also asks why has it taken you nine months, in consultation with the Minister of Justice, Ginny Andersen, to process an application for a safe area for the Christchurch Public Hospital?
We know that it was not because you had to process thousands of submissions from outraged citizens, who were defending their right of free speech and assembly, because you did not accept submissions to allow the community to be heard, so much for democracy.
It was the previous Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who promised the nation in 2017 that we would have the most accountable and transparent government that we had ever had. Is this the accountable and transparent government that the Prime Minister promised?
We do not have a democracy, instead we have a dictatorship. The Minister has used legislation to curtail our right of free speech and assembly and we also have no right of appeal; the Minister has spoken.
The safe area legislation allows for the police to arrest any person who breaches this law within the 150-meter safe area and charge them in court. Upon conviction they may be fined up to $1,000.
Right to Life believes that anyone who was wearing a T-shirt with a pro-life message and was enjoying walking in our beautiful botanic gardens within the “safe area” could be arrested by the police for breaching the safe area legislation. Is this the kind of society which New Zealanders want?
Right to Life warns our community that the Labour/Green government is in danger of turning our country into a police state, as it seeks to control what we think, what we say and where we may go.
Right to Life is committed to continue campaigning for the repeal of this appalling legislation, which protects the war against women and their precious unborn and violates our human rights of free speech and assembly.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life New Zealand Inc.