Last week, New Zealand’s parliament unanimously passed the “Abortion Legislation Bill” by 94 votes to 23. The bill allows pregnant women in the country to have an abortion without the consent of a doctor (except after 20 weeks of pregnancy) and will be determined in a final vote. Among those who voted against the bill were two Tongan born MPs, Jenny Salesa and Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki.

During the house debate following the bill vote, Anahila made a passionate speech about why she opposed the bill.

“My views in opposition to this bill are derived from Tongan culture and as a Christian Tongan. That's where I formed my view. And I need to say it in this House that I am a Christian and I was raised a Tongan Christian. And I don't stand here to say that I represent all Christians or all Pasifika. I am representing my views as a Tongan and all the people that have actually spoken to me about those views.”

“The word for ‘placenta’  in the Tongan culture and the word for ‘land’ is one word, it means the same. It's ‘fonua’. So placenta in the Tongan language means fonua and land means fonua. In my upbringing, the most sacred kinds of rituals conducted by Tongans are through birth and death.”

Age of consent

Ms Kanongata'a-Suisuiki said that age of consent also need to be considered. The new bill allow girls as young as 13 to decide an abortion.

“I disagree with the fact that it is an informed decision by a woman who is pregnant at 14 to have an abortion. I disagree with that it is informed. And I also disagree with the fact that it's the woman's choice, because, at the end of the day, it is the health practitioner that makes the decision for the woman to have an abortion.”

Auckland MP of Samoan decent, Agnes Loheni, also opposed the bill in an emotional speech.

“This bill seeks to strip unborn babies of what little recognition and protection they had left in the law. In decriminalising women who seek an abortion, the sad reality of this bill is that it dehumanises the unborn baby by framing abortion via termination as a health issue.”

“I have outlined a lot to be alarmed about in this bill. I am deeply saddened at this bill's blatant attack on the right to life and recognition for our unborn babies. If we can discard the life of an unborn baby—if we can diminish their value and their humanity to the point that we no longer call them babies, then we have lost our own humanity, because they are the smallest versions of us. Late-term surgical abortions are nothing short of barbaric; there is nothing kind in it. A truly progressive society protects the rights of all its members down to the smallest and most vulnerable—the unborn child. I take a stand for that unborn child. I oppose this bill.”