Jacinda Ardern: Abortion 'shouldn't be a crime'

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says abortion should not be in the Crimes Act and she would change the law.

Access to abortion is governed by the Crimes Act 1961 and the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977.

The law has not been changed since 1977, although there have been calls for it to be liberalised. 

During the Newshub debate on Monday night, Ardern said she would change the law if she became Prime Minister.

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"It shouldn't be in the Crimes Act. People need to be able to make their own decision."

"People need to be able to make their own decisions," said Ardern.

"I want women who want access to be able to have it as a right." 

Prime Minster Bill English, a conservative Catholic, said he supported the law as it was and he would be opposed to liberalisation.

He described the current set-up, where a woman has to get a certificate from two separate medical professionals saying she needed an abortion, was "broadly acceptable" and was working.

However, English said it would be a "conscience decision", so his MP could vote freely on it.