Celebrating 8,000 babies saved internationally with abortion pill reversal protocol!

Media Release 21 June 2026

Right to Life asks: what justification can the New Zealand Ministry of Health have for adopting an aggressive anti-life policy to prevent the birth of unborn New Zealanders and restrict and oppress the right of doctors to treat their patients with the successful Abortion Pill protocol?

There are a number of states in the USA, which provide a legal requirement for doctors to advise women considering an Early Medical Abortion, of their right to change their mind and receive Progesterone to halt and reverse their abortion. At least seven U.S. state governments have passed laws legally requiring abortion providers to inform patients that an early medical abortion can potentially be halted midway using Progesterone therapy.

Heartbeat International is a global anti-abortion organization which commenced managing the Abortion Pill Rescue Network (APRN) in 2018, a system which promotes and provides "abortion pill reversal" (APR). The network consists of over 1,000 medical professionals and pregnancy centres globally, which offer the progesterone treatment.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health has banned Progesterone being prescribed as the Abortion Pill Reversal protocol, and has adamantly refused to accept that the birth of more than 8,000 babies internationally from stopped medical abortions, is proof that Progesterone is safe and effective.

The Ministry of Health (Manatū Hauora) has issued strict position statements against the APR practice. Under Section 20(2) of the Medicines Act 1981, promoting Progesterone for unapproved purposes, such as abortion reversal, is a breach of the law. Individuals convicted under this act can face fines up to $20,000 or up to six months of imprisonment. Additionally, medical professionals can be investigated for a breach of consumer rights through the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC).

Right to Life believes that New Zealand has the dubious distinction of being the only country which currently enforces laws that criminally prosecute doctors for the physical act of administering Progesterone to halt and reverse a medical abortion.

Right to Life asks how many babies have to be born to convince the Ministry that Progesterone is safe and effective?

In the U.K. and in a number of European Union countries, it is possible to be prescribed Progesterone during pregnancy, from private health providers, although it is not available through the NHS in the United Kingdom.

The Ministry of Health presides over the state funded multi-million dollar abortion industry in New Zealand. It refuses to accept that human life begins at conception and that every child is a unique and unrepeatable miracle of God’s loving creation. This is an industry that is sustained with an orchestrated litany of lies designed by the Ministry supported by the medical profession, the media and the silence of many churches.

The financial success of the abortion industry is measured by the number of dead babies that it can produce. There is no profit in live babies. Provisionally there were a total 17,964 babies killed in abortions in New Zealand in 2025.

It is detrimental to the profitability of the abortion industry when women change their minds after taking the first abortion pill Mifepristone, and want to stop the abortion. The Ministry is committed to discouraging women from changing their mind and choosing life for their child.

Section 11 of The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 affirms that “everyone has the right to refuse to undergo any medical treatment". This right protects personal autonomy and bodily integrity, ensuring individuals cannot be forced to undergo medical procedures, including vaccinations or treatment, without consent, subject to limited, lawful exceptions.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), acknowledge that taking Mifepristone alone may result in a live birth, as the drug is significantly less effective without the follow-up medication, Misoprostol. In this event there is a 46% chance of a live birth.

It is noted that Progesterone has been safely and successfully used by the medical profession internationally to save pregnancies threatened by miscarriage for more than 60 years.

Right to Life requests that the Ministry of Health act in the best interests of women and their unborn children, by allowing women the right to change their mind and reverse an early medical abortion after taking the first pill, Mifepristone, before taking the second pill Misoprostol.

Right to Life is committed to campaigning on behalf of women and their precious unborn child for the Ministry of Health to allow women to choose life for their child and utilise the abortion pill reversal protocol. .

Ken Orr,

Spokesperson,

Right to Life New Zealand Inc.